Majority of Israelis Prefer the Trump Administration over Biden's

Majority of Israelis Prefer the Trump Administration over Biden's
TT
20

Majority of Israelis Prefer the Trump Administration over Biden's

Majority of Israelis Prefer the Trump Administration over Biden's

The majority of Israelis believe US President Joe Biden is less favorable to Israel than his predecessor, Donald Trump, according to a poll by the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies (Mitvim).

According to the Ninth Annual Public Opinion Survey on Israeli Foreign Policy, Israelis consider the United States to be the best world country for Israel.

Russia fell second, followed by Germany, Britain, China, Egypt, France and Jordan, whose rate of importance for Israelis has increased to 12 percent compared to seven percent in last year’s foreign policy index.

Meanwhile, 46 percent of the Israelis considered the European Union to be a rival rather than a friend.

About 57 percent attached great importance to Israel’s improving its relations with Jordan, and 61 percent expressed broad support for improving relations with Turkey.

Almost half of the participants in the survey said they are interested in visiting an Arab country.

The United Arab Emirates and Morocco are the Arab countries that Israelis are most interested in visiting, at 10% each, followed by Lebanon (7%), Egypt (6%), Saudi Arabia (3%) and Jordan (3%).

In another context, 38 percent said that Israel should not interfere in the Palestinian Authority’s political and economic crises, while 28 percent supported Israel’s working to strengthen the authority, and 13 percent said that Israel should work to weaken it.

As for Gaza, 31 percent said relevant parties should work to ensure the PA regains control in the enclave, while 22 percent supported resorting to the international community for a broad economic reconstruction in the Strip.

Also, 13 percent supported Israel conducting negotiations with Hamas to reach a long-lasting truce and nine percent said the situation there should remain as it is.

Thirty-two percent of Israelis considered meetings between Israeli and Palestinian officials a positive step that contributes to improving bilateral ties, the poll showed, and 30 percent believed it is a symbolic move that will not affect ties, while 17 percent said these meetings harm Israeli interests.



Russia Says US Threats of Military Strikes against Iran are Unacceptable

Military personnel stand guard at a nuclear facility in the Zardanjan area of Isfahan, Iran, April 19, 2024, in this screengrab taken from video. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo
Military personnel stand guard at a nuclear facility in the Zardanjan area of Isfahan, Iran, April 19, 2024, in this screengrab taken from video. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo
TT
20

Russia Says US Threats of Military Strikes against Iran are Unacceptable

Military personnel stand guard at a nuclear facility in the Zardanjan area of Isfahan, Iran, April 19, 2024, in this screengrab taken from video. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo
Military personnel stand guard at a nuclear facility in the Zardanjan area of Isfahan, Iran, April 19, 2024, in this screengrab taken from video. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo

Russia said on Thursday that threats of military strikes against its ally Iran were unacceptable and warned that attacking Iran could lead to potentially catastrophic results if nuclear installations were bombed.

US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Sunday with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program, and the United States has moved additional warplanes into the region.

Asked about Iran's nuclear program and the dangers in the current situation, Russia's foreign ministry said that Moscow was committed to finding solutions to Iran's nuclear program which respected Tehran's rights to peaceful nuclear energy.

"The use of military force by Iran's opponents in the context of the settlement is illegal and unacceptable," Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the ministry, told reporters.

"Threats from outside to bomb Iran's nuclear infrastructure facilities will inevitably lead to an irreversible global catastrophe. These threats are simply unacceptable."

Western powers accuse Iran of having a clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons capability by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy program.

Tehran says its nuclear program is wholly for civilian energy purposes.

Russia and Iran signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership agreement" in January, though there is no mutual defense clause. Under the agreement, if one party is attacked, the other will not help the aggressor.

Russia condemns US threats, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Life magazine. Ryabkov said an attack on Iran could unfurl a broader open conflict in the Middle East.

"The consequences of this, especially if there are strikes on the nuclear infrastructure, could be catastrophic for the entire region," Ryabkov said.