Arab Youths No Longer See Israel As The Biggest Problem In The Middle East

Palestinians clash with troops in the West Bank city of Hebron on Sunday following the death of an Israeli soldier. Photograph: Mussa Issa Qawasma/Reuters

Evelyn Gordon, Commentary: Young Arabs Agree: Israel Isn’t Arab World’s Major Problem

One of the most positive strategic developments for Israel of the past few years has been its marked improvement in relations with significant parts of the Arab world. Three years ago, for instance, the most cockeyed optimist wouldn’t have predicted a letter like Israel received this week from a senior official of the Free Syrian Army, who congratulated it on its 67th anniversary and voiced hope that next year, Israel’s Independence Day would be celebrated at an Israeli embassy in Damascus.

Yet many analysts have cautioned that even if Arab leaders were quietly cooperating with Israel for reasons of realpolitik, anti-Israel hostility in the “Arab street” hadn’t abated. So a new poll showing that this, too, is changing came as a lovely Independence Day gift.

WNU Editor: This is a major shift in Arab public opinion .... and this should not surprise anyone as conflict and unrest continues to spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa.