US Policies and the Perspective of Arab People

One of the most significant reasons behind the problematic nature of U.S. policy in the Middle East is the failure of policymakers to consider its impact on the needs and aspirations of Arab populations. With Israel, the situation is markedly different. The excessive focus on Israeli concerns, coupled with the disregard for Arab opinions regarding our actions, has led to deep divisions between Arabs and the United States, as well as within the Arab world itself.

Since 2000, we have conducted more than 50 international public opinion polls on a wide range of topics. In these polls, we explored Arab attitudes toward one another, as well as toward the United States, China, Russia, Iran and Israel. We also examined their views on regional conflicts.

More than two years have passed since our last poll in the Arab world. However, based on what we’ve observed over two and a half decades of work, it is clear that U.S. policies are heading toward a catastrophe — not only for the United States and its declared objectives, but, more importantly, for the Arab people.

Here are some key observations drawn from the trends revealed by our polls:

Following the events of Sept. 11, President George W. Bush made a famous statement: "Americans are asking, 'Why do they hate us?' They hate our freedoms — our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other.”* Yet our 2002 poll showed the opposite. Arabs expressed admiration for the American people, their products, education and values. What angered them deeply was U.S. policy toward the Arab world, particularly regarding the Palestinians. As I stated during a congressional hearing on the poll: "Arabs like us and our values — what they resent is that we don't apply those values to them."

President Bush’s war in Iraq and his neglect of the Palestinian issue further eroded America’s popularity. It rose again with President Barack Obama’s promises of change, only to decline once more when those promises went unfulfilled. Attitudes dropped sharply with the pro-Israel policies of the Trump administration.

By late 2023, our latest multi-country poll showed that President Joe Biden’s support for Israel’s war on Gaza generated even stronger negative reactions. Compounding the problem were the complexities associated with Donald Trump’s policies, along with his attacks on key elements of American strength that had long earned global respect — such as our universities, freedom of the press and immigration policy. This has made it increasingly difficult for Arabs to even admire American values.

Over the years, we have repeatedly surveyed positive and negative attitudes toward both China and the United States. While opinions of the U.S. have fluctuated, attitudes toward China have remained relatively stable. By the end of 2023, for the first time, China’s ratings had become competitive with those of the United States in areas that were previously considered American strengths, such as education and business climate.

Support for the Palestinians has always been the primary concern for Arabs, with very little interest in peace with Israel — even in countries that have signed peace agreements with it. As Israeli repression of Palestinians has intensified, and amid the failure of a divided and visionless Palestinian leadership to inspire them, Arab public opinion began to shift. In late 2019, when we asked Arabs whether they viewed peace with Israel as desirable even if Israel did not accept the terms of the Arab Peace Initiative, a majority responded positively. Many believed it could help end the violence and give Arabs greater leverage to persuade Israel to grant Palestinians their rights.

We asked the same question again at the end of September 2023, and the results were strikingly different. Before Oct. 7, responses were similar to those in 2019. However, by the end of October, under the impact of the intensity of Israel’s attack on Gaza, attitudes shifted radically against any engagement with Israel. Three years later, it is reasonable to assume that this position has not changed.

In 2024 and 2025, we conducted three rounds of polling in the occupied Palestinian territories, and the results were alarming. Israeli policy has succeeded in tarnishing the reputation of the Palestinian Authority and weakening its ability to govern. Public opinion in the West Bank has turned against the Palestinian Authority. In Gaza, we found that Hamas had lost significant popularity, with a large majority of Gazans preferring the Palestinian Authority.

At the same time, Israel continues to destroy Gaza and pursue repressive policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, further fueling Palestinian anger and undermining the standing of the Palestinian Authority. Yet Israel refuses to allow any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. As the situation deteriorates, the United States ignores the wishes of the Palestinians and turns a blind eye to Israeli violations.

*Editor’s note: This quote, accurately translated, could not be independently verified.