Poll: Israel among the world's least popular countries

Only Iran, North Korea and Pakistan are viewed more negatively in BBC survey, despite a 2% rise in positive opinion on Israel.

By LAHAV HARKOV
anti-israel at white house 311 (photo credit: REUTERS)
anti-israel at white house 311
(photo credit: REUTERS)
A poll conducted by the BBC World Service and released on Monday shows that Israel is one of the least popular countries in the world, with only Iran, North Korea and Pakistan ranking lower, despite a two percent rise in positive opinion on the Jewish State since last year.
Participants in 27 countries were asked: "Please tell me if you think each of the following countries is having a mainly positive or mainly negative influence in the world?" No Israelis were polled.
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Israel received a 49 percent negative rating, despite a slight rise in positive ratings from last year's 19% to 21%. Respondents from the US and Russia were most likely to view Israel positively, while only 5% of Egyptians gave Israel a positive rating. Egypt and Turkey gave Israel the most negative ratings, but Egypt's negative views on Israel dipped from 92% to 78%.
Israel's negative rating rose by 10% in the US (from 31% to 41%) and in the UK (50% to 60%). Opinions on Israel also became more negative in Canada, Kenya, Indonesia, Australia, Portugal, Spain and Brazil.
Russia, Ghana, Chile and India were the four countries whose negative views were moderated, becoming either divided or positive, since last year.
The order of popularity is Germany, UK, Japan, Canada, France, US, Brazil, China, South Africa, India, South Korea, Russia, Israel, Pakistan, North Korea, Iran. Germany received 62% positive ratings, while Iran was rated negative by 59% of participants.