Navigating Normalization Risks: Assessing the Impact of Arab Countries’ Progress
Watan-A new study conducted by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies has confirmed that Arabs are now more supportive of Palestinians than at any time since 2011, the year when the center began systematically polling public opinion in the Arab world on issues related to Israel, Palestine, and other matters.
According to the report by Mohamed Al-Masri, an academic at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, in the latest survey conducted between December 12 and January 5, the center gathered opinions from 8,000 Arabs in 16 countries, representing over 95% of the Arab region’s population. The participants were asked various questions regarding the Palestinian issue, the Al-Aqsa Mosque events, and U.S. policy towards them.
The results indicated that the Israeli war on Gaza, considered a genocide under international humanitarian law, increased Arab support for Palestinians and intensified anti-Israel and anti-U.S. sentiments. Ninety-two percent of respondents stated that the Palestinian cause concerns all Arabs, not just Palestinians. This represents a significant increase from the 76% reported in the center’s 2022 survey and is the highest recorded percentage to date.
The survey also showed strong Arab public support for Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza, with nearly 90% of Arab participants considering the October 7 attack by Hamas a “legitimate resistance operation.”
Unprecedented Survey Results on the Gaza War
Unprecedented survey results on the Gaza war revealed that 89% of respondents reject recognizing Israel, marking the highest recorded percentage in the center’s surveys. Only 13% of surveyed Arabs believe that peace with Israel is still possible.
The survey indicates a more negative view towards the United States due to the Gaza war, with over 90% of participants describing the U.S. response to recent events as “bad” or “very bad.” Seventy-six percent stated that their opinion of U.S. policy has become more negative since October 7.
These results have significant implications for Israeli normalization efforts
In 2020, four Arab countries – the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan, and Bahrain – agreed to normalize relations with Israel.
However, the latest survey shows that Saudi Arabian respondents, at 68%, reject recognizing Israel, nearly double the 38% reported in 2022. Moroccans and Sudanese are also more inclined to reject recognition, with rejection rates reaching 78% and 81%, respectively.
These results underscore the challenges faced by Arab governments attempting future normalization with Israel, especially in the aftermath of the Gaza war and heightened negative sentiments towards Israel in the Arab world.
Arab Public Unites in Anger
The article suggests that the willingness of Arab governments to ignore popular sentiment will be a critical question moving forward, as continuing with Israeli normalization against the will of their citizens may carry significant risks. The unity of Arab public anger appears evident, reminiscent of the Arab Spring era, characterized by calls for democracy and widespread popular protests.
The British website concludes by questioning whether Arab governments are prepared to gamble on normalization agreements that could lead to disturbances, noting that only time will tell.
