Do They Like Me?

April 25, 2007 - 3:30 PM by Stephanie

YNet is running a lengthy (but interesting) piece on Israel’s globl image.

According to the website’s “in depth assessment from our representatives around the world” (sounds rather James Bond-ish, no?), despite recent polls indicating Israel is none too popular, when it comes to public opinion the word on the street is changing.

“In the three biggest countries in Europe – UK, France and Germany – public opinion polls are showing improved positions towards Israel. The war exposed Iran and Syria as countries that supported terrorism, intent on creating instability,” (head of the Foreign Ministry’s public affairs department Amir) Gissin maintained.

“It is not that the Europeans like us more,” stressed Gissin. “Israel will always be perceived as a democracy that uses excess force. Earlier, the Palestinians were perceived as David fighting the Israeli Goliath. Now, after the war and after Hamas gained power, they realize that the Palestinians are not all in the same boat. There are the Hamas extremists and the more moderate Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas).

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