Israel Matzav

Just 3% of Arabs empathize with Holocaust victims

Here's another datapoint from that survey of Arab opinion that the mainstream media would like you to ignore. Just 3% of the Arabs surveyed empathize with Jewish Holocaust victims.

It asked respondents, "When you watch a movie or a program about the Jewish Holocaust, which of the following is closest to your feelings..."

The most popular response, from 59 percent, was "Resent it as I feel it brings sympathy toward Israel and the Jews at the expense of Palestinians and Arabs."

Another 29 percent said they had "mixed feelings.

Rounding out the bottom, a mere three percent of Arabs say they "Empathize with the Jews who suffered under the Nazis."

James Kirchick has a review of the entire poll (which is being touted by Leftists all over the web to prove that the Arabs are ready for peace with Israel) here. Here's his conclusion:

Last year, I wrote an essay for Commentary called “What Price Popularity,” which argued that the United States has and always will be reviled by many people around the world (particularly Muslims), that the reasons for this resentment are often quite complex and beyond our control, and that, rather than fret and complain about this phenomenon, policymakers would do well to pursue what they believe to be in the nation’s interest, regardless of what foreigners think. This latest poll simply underscores the irrationality, paranoia, and ignorance underlying Arab public opinion — and why we should stop obsessing over it, if not ignore it entirely.

Indeed.

It's too bad they don't give the country by country breakdown on the 'peace process' issue. I would bet that the percentage that is supposedly willing to live in peace with us is higher among the countries that are further away.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:25 PM