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Arabs Want Reform, US Help in Solving Israel-Palestine Crisis

Posted on Monday December 6, 2004

WASHINGTON – A new survey commissioned by the Arab American Institute of Arab public opinion asked respondents to evaluate the importance of ten different reform issues and then to indicate how helpful they felt the US could be in assisting their countries achieve each of these reforms. The poll surveyed attitudes of 2,600 adult Arabs in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates and was conducted by Zogby International.

Arabs Want Reform, But Not US Help
Washington Watch, by Dr. James Zogby

Before the Bush Administration pushes ahead with plans to promote reform in the Arab world, attention should be given to the results of our latest Arab American Institute/Zogby International (AAI/ZI) poll.

Arabs want reform, but the change they want is more related to quality of life than political issues. And when asked how helpful the United States could be in promoting reform in their countries, they were decidedly cool to US involvement in their internal affairs.

Arabs Want Reform

Respondents listed the following issues as most important in rank order: expanding employment, settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, improving healthcare, and increasing access to education. Internal reform including curbing extremism and expanding civil rights were of moderate importance while democratic reform, women’s rights, and increasing political debate were at the bottom of the list. Comparing respondents by age, gender, or educational achievement reveals no substantial difference in the rank order of issues.

US Must Help Solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

When asked how helpful the United States could be in promoting reform in their countries, respondents were decidedly cool to US involvement in their internal affairs. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict was the only issue in which a significant number of respondents indicated support for US involvement. Improving healthcare placed a distant second followed by expanding employment and increasing educational access.

“As Secretary of State Colin Powell prepares to meet with Arab leaders this week, he would do well to consider the opinion of the Arab public. While Arabs want reform, the change they want is more related to quality of life than political issues. Reform, if it is to be successful, must be demand driven and not imposed from outside,” said AAI President James Zogby.