Public Narrowly Backs UN Recognition of Palestine: Global Poll

[Jefferson23]

EMBARGO 23:00 GMT Sunday 18 September 2011



As debate continues over whether the Palestinians should ask for a UN resolution recognising Palestine as an independent state, a new global poll for BBC World Service reveals that, in all 19 countries surveyed, more citizens would prefer to see their government vote to support the resolution than vote against it – although only by a modest margin in many countries.

The poll of 20,446 citizens conducted by GlobeScan shows that, while the public is five to two in favour, with three undecided, in only nine countries is there an outright majority of citizens in support of recognizing Palestine as a state.

Across the countries surveyed 49 per cent back the resolution, while 21 per cent say their government should oppose it, and a large proportion (30%) either say that it depends, that their government should abstain, or that they do not know what their government should do.

Support for recognition is strongest in Egypt, where 90 per cent are in favour and only nine per cent opposed. But there is also majority support in the other three predominantly Muslim countries polled – Turkey (60% support, 19% oppose), Pakistan (52% support, 12% oppose) and Indonesia (51% support,16% oppose). Chinese people are the second most likely overall to favour their government voting for recognition of a Palestinian state, with 56 per cent in support, and just nine per cent opposed.

remainder: http://www.globescan.com/news_archives/bbc2011_palestine/

[leveymg]

1. That's not even close: "49% back the resolution, while 21% say their government should oppose"

As usual, the headline editor puts the spin on it.

[Jefferson23]

2. The headline I have no concern about, the content should scare the

hell out of Netanyahu.

[dtexdem]

3. Hmm, narrowly -- 49 to 21.

In other words, among those giving a definite answer, 70% approved.