Russians blame USA for stirring up Middle East conflict – poll

(Interfax – Dec. 10) The majority of Russians are aware of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (86 per cent), but, just as 10 years ago, they do not tend to support any particular side and accuse the USA of stirring up the conflict in the region, sociologists have found out.

Twenty-five per cent of Russians sympathize with both peoples, 31 per cent support neither side in the conflict. However, if the former group is becoming less numerous (in 2001 the figure was 33 per cent), the latter, on the contrary, is increasing (from 28 per cent). The others’ sympathies are more often on the side of the Palestinians (14 per cent, in 2001 – 10 per cent) than the Israelites, a VTsIOM survey conducted on 1-2 December among 1,600 respondents in 46 constituent parts of the Russian Federation has shown.

The Palestinian side is supported more by CPRF (Communist Party of the Russian Federation) voters (26 per cent), residents of Moscow, St Petersburg and other big cities (23 per cent each); the Israeli side is supported by those supporting non-parliamentary parties (19 per cent) and Russians living in cities with a population of at least 1m people (14 per cent). Both sides of the conflict are equally supported by voters of the A Just Russia party (28 per cent), the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (27 per cent) and the One Russia (United Russia) party (28 per cent), residents of Moscow (31 per cent). Neither side is supported by abstentionists (40 per cent) and residents of small towns (36 per cent).

A relative majority of those polled (39 per cent) regard the present conflict in the Middle East both as an Israeli aggression and an attempt of the Israeli people to protect themselves from attacks of Palestinian terrorists (26 per cent in 2002). Those who regard Israel an aggressor make up 16 per cent, a victim – 17 per cent. The latter group has decreased in the last 10 years (in 2002, 22 per cent). Israel is viewed as an aggressor by supporters of CPRF (31 per cent) and elderly respondents (20 per cent), as a victim – by supporters of A Just Russia (23 per cent) and those aged 35-44 (21 per cent).

In the last 10 years, according to VTsIOM, the number of Russians accusing the USA of inciting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by supporting one of its sides has risen: from 42 per cent in 2002 to 55 per cent now. Respondents now note America’s intention to bring both sides to peace far less often (10 per cent against 25 per cent 10 years ago). Those who think the USA is staying away from the conflict are not numerous either (8 per cent).

As far as Russia’s role in the Middle East conflict is concerned, according to the majority of those polled, our country is seeking to bring the hostile sides to peace (48 per cent). A quarter of respondents think that Russia is staying away from the conflict (23 per cent), and only 7 per cent regard Russia’s actions as an attempt to support one of the hostile sides.