Weekly Commentary: Poll Shows Saudi Street Sees Israel Differently Than
Others
Dr. Aaron Lerner 9 January 2026

Take a look at some of the results of this poll of our neighbors:

"Which country do you consider the greatest threat to the security of your
country?"
(percentage identifying Israel as the greatest threat)
Mashreq (Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Syria) 53%
Nile Valley (Egypt, Sudan) 38%
Gulf (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar) 9%

Do you support or oppose your country recognizing Israel?
(% opposing recognition)
Jordan 95%
Egypt 87%
Lebanon 89%
Syria 74%
Saudi Arabia 61%

Is the Palestinian cause a collective Arab cause or only a Palestinian
cause?
(% saying "The Palestinian cause is a collective Arab cause")
Jordan 93%
Egypt 69%
Lebanon 67%
Syria 69%
Saudi Arabia 62%%

The Arab Opinion Index 2024-25 was conducted between November 2024 and
August 2025, according to the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies.
The Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, which produced the survey,
is based in Doha, Qatar
https://www.dohainstitute.org/en/Lists/ACRPS-PDFDocumentLibrary/arab-index-2
025-in-brief-en.pdf

While these results don't indicate that Saudis would be dancing in the
street to celebrate Saudi-Israeli diplomatic relations, they certainly
indicate that the Saudi leadership faces less pressure than others in our
neighborhood to avoid improved relations with the Jewish State.
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