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Arab Attitudes Toward Normalization and the Abraham Accords

Note: We are presenting raw data. When available, we provide some or all of the crosstabs (i.e., breakdowns by various categories such as party ID). To analyze the data, we encourage users to read the entire study and the methodology used. Results and reliability can be affected by such things as sample size, question wording, and question order. Responses may also be influenced by context and timing; for example, if the survey is conducted during a war. The wording of questions in Arabic may not be exact.


If it is up to you, which of the following conditions should Saudi Arabia demand in order to normalize its relations with Israel? [Palestinians] (PSR, September 6-9, 2023)

  2023

Israel’s recognition of the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders

10%

Israel’s commitment not to annex any Palestinian Areas

7%

Transfer of Occupied Area C of the West Bank to PA control 8%
Release funds withheld by Israel from tax revenues 8%
Israeli release of a number of Palestinian prisoners 12%
None of the above; normalization with Israel is not acceptable before resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict 53%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you support PA entry into negotiations with Saudi Arabia and the U.S. over setting Palestinian conditions for Saudi normalization with Israel, such as Israeli transfer of land or the opening of the PLO representative office in Washington DC? [Palestinians] (PSR, September 6-9, 2023)

  2023

Support

24%

Oppose

72%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arab governments are neglecting the Palestinians and starting to make friends with Israel, because they think the Palestinians should be more willing to compromise. (The Washington Institute, July 8-27, 2023)

  2019 2020 2022 2023
  West Bank Gaza Strip West Bank Gaza Strip West Bank Gaza Strip West Bank

Agree

46%
62%
47%
54%
38%
56%
61%

Don't agree

49%
36%
44%
45%
59%
39%
37%

If Saudi Arabia normalizes relations with Israel, Palestinian leadership should also normalize relations and end the conflict. (The Washington Institute, July 8-27, 2023)

  2023
  West Bank Gaza Strip

Agree

32%
50%

Don't agree

65%
47%

What impact will Abraham Accords peace agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan have on our region? [% positive] (Washington Institute, April 2023)

  2020 2021
2022
2023
Bahrain 45% 18%
12%
20%
Egypt 25% 12%
 
12%
Jordan 9% 12%
 
12%
Kuwait    
 
14%
Qatar 40% 14%    
Saudi Arabia 41% 16% 21% 20%
UAE 47% 23% 25% 27%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If it would help our economy, it would be acceptable to have some business deals with Israeli companies. (Washington Institute, April 2023)

  Bahrain Egypt Jordan Kuwait Saudi Arabia UAE
Agree 38% 15% 13% 2% 38% 45%
Disagree 60% 82% 84% 95% 61% 53%

 

 

 

 

In case of an earthquake or other natural disaster, as we just saw in Syria and Turkey, Arab countries should refuse any humanitarian aid from Israel. (Washington Institute, April 2023)

  Bahrain Egypt Jordan Kuwait Saudi Arabia UAE
Agree 88% 73% 76% 87% 81% 74%
Disagree 11% 22% 21% 11% 17% 23%

 

 

 

 

 

How strongly do/would you support or oppose your government’s decision to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel? (ASDA’A BCW Arab Youth Survey, March 27-April 12, 2023)

 
Support
Oppose
UAE
75%
16%
Egypt
73%
12%
Morocco
50%
44%
South Sudan
47%
53%
Oman 39% 61%
Algeria 31% 69%
Bahrain 30% 53%
Syria 19% 81%
Yemen 19% 81%
Tunisia 13% 85%
Kuwait 14% 66%
Jordan 6% 94%
Sudan 3% 97%
Saudi Arabia 2% 98%
Lebanon 2% 98%
Libya 1% 99%
Iraq 0% 100%
Palestinian Territories 0% 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you favor the normalization of relations between Arab states and Israel? (Arab Barometer, July 2022).

 
Favor
Sudan
39%
Morocco
31%
Lebanon
17%
Iraq
14%
Tunisia
11%
Mauritania
8%
Libya
7%
Palestine
6%
Jordan
5%
Egypt
5%

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is your view of the Abraham Accords between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan? (Washington Institute, March 2022).

 
Positive
Negative
Bahrain
22%
66%
Egypt
13%
84%
Lebanon
7%
86%
Jordan
12%
84%
Kuwait
14%
81%
Saudi Arabia 19% 75%
UAE 25% 71%
Gaza 34% 39%
West Bank 25% 58%
East Jerusalem 48% 50%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arab approval of UAE and Bahrain peace agreements with Israel (Washington Institute, October 17-November 9, 2020)

  Egypt Lebanon Jordan Saudi Arabia UAE Qatar Bahrain
Approve 25% 19% 9% 41% 47% 40% 45%

 

 

 

Saudi views on UAE and Bahrain peace agreements with Israel. (Washington Institute, October 17-November 9, 2020)

Very positive
12%
Somewhat positive
29%
Somewhat negative
30%
Very negative
24%
Haven't read enough/DK/Not sure
4%

Saudi views on people who want to have business or sports contacts with Israelis should be allowed to do so. (Washington Institute, October 17-November 9, 2020)

 
June 2020
October 2020
Strongly agree
1%
11%
Somewhat agree
8%
26%
Somewhat disagree
36%
32%
Strongly disagree
50%
29%
DK/No answer
5%
2%

 

With an American initiative, UAE and Israel arrived at an agreement to normalize relations between the two countries in which Israel agreed to suspend or postpone theannexation of Palestinian areas in the West Bank. Do you see this agreement representing a great transformation in the region in its relations or Israel or do you see it as a minor issues that will have little consequences? (PSR, September 9-12, 2020)

 

Total

West Bank
Gaza

Minor

32%

25%
41%

great transformation

63%

57%
58%

Other: specify

0%

0%
0%
DK/NA
5%
7%
1%

In your view, does this agreement serve the interests of the Palestinians or the Israelis or both sides? (PSR, September 9-12, 2020)

 

Total

West Bank
Gaza

interests of Palestinians

1%

1%
3%

interests of Israel

86%

89%
83%
interests of both sides

8%

4%
13%

Other: specify

1%

2%
0%
DK/NA
3%
5%
1%

If you want to pick a single word that describes your feeling toward the decision of UAE to normalize relations with Israel, you would say: (PSR, September 9-12, 2020)

 

Total

West Bank
Gaza

indifference

9%

9%
8%

let down

17%

16%
18%
joy

0%

0%
0%

insult

13%

11%
17%
pride
0%
0%
0%
betrayal
53%
57%
47%
satisfaction
1%
0%
1%
sadness
6%
5%
7%
DK/NA
2%
3%
0%

In your view, does the majority of the public in the Arab World support or oppose the decision of the UAE to normalize relations with Israel in return for stopping or postponing the annexation of Palestinian territories in the West Bank? (PSR, September 9-12, 2020)

 

Total

West Bank
Gaza

support

20%

19%
22%

oppose

57%

61%
51%
indifferent

19%

15%
25%
DK/NA
4%
6%
1%

There are reports about the likelihood of other Arab countries, like Bahrain, Oman, Sudan, and Morocco, to reaching normalization agreements with Israel. Do you think some or all of these countries will indeed normalize relations with Israel in the near future despite continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories? (PSR, September 9-12, 2020)

 

Total

West Bank
Gaza

yes

70%

70%
69%

no

24%

20%
29%
DK/NA
7%
10%
2%

Do you think Saudi Arabia has given the green light for the UAE to normalize relations with Israel? (PSR, September 9-12, 2020)

 

Total

West Bank
Gaza

yes

80%

84%
74%

no

12%

6%
20%
DK/NA
8%
10%
6%

Do you think Saudi Arabia too will publicly reach a normalization agreement with Israel? (PSR, September 9-12, 2020)

 

Total

West Bank
Gaza

yes

82%

85%
78%

no

13%

8%
20%
DK/NA
5%
7%
3%

Egypt has welcomed the UAE-Israel normalization deal while the PA leadership has described the deal as a stabbing in the back of the Palestinian people. Do you view the Egyptian position as an abandonment of the Palestinian leadership led by Abbas? (PSR, September 9-12, 2020)

 

Total

West Bank
Gaza

yes

78%

81%
73%

no

18%

13%
26%
DK/NA
4%
6%
1%

Some say that we should not blame others and instead should blame ourselves first because of our split and second because we have recognized Israel and normalized relations with it before the UAE did that same thing. Do you agree or disagree with this view? (PSR, September 9-12, 2020)

 

Total

West Bank
Gaza

Agree

53%

54%
51%

Disagree

42%

37%
48%
DK/NA
6%
9%
1%

Similarly, some say that the decision by the UAE to violate the Arab consensus embodied in the Arab Peace Initiative is big failure for Palestinian diplomacy. Do you agree or disagree with this view? (PSR, September 9-12, 2020)

 

Total

West Bank
Gaza

Agree

62%

59%
66%

Disagree

31%

30%
32%
DK/NA
8%
12%
2%

Do you support the normalization agreements between Israel and the Arab world? [Not exact wording] (Zogby Analytics, October 2020)

Country Yes
UAE 56%
Saudi Arabia 41%
Egypt 42%
Jordan 41%
Palestine 39%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: The following surveys were taken before the signing of the Abraham Accords.

At this point, in your opinion, how likely is it that some Arab states will develop normalized relations with Israel even without peace between Israel and the Palestinians? (Zogby Analytics, August 25-September 26, 2019, June 24 - July 5, 2020)

Country Likely Unlikely
  2019 2020 2019 2020
UAE 64% 76% 36% 25%
Saudi Arabia 53% 71% 47% 29%
Egypt 59% 69% 41% 31%
Lebanon 37%   63%  
Jordan 52% 75% 48% 25%
Palestine 72% 55% 28% 45%

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

In your opinion, how desirable is it that some Arab states develop normalized relations with Israel even without peace between Israel and the Palestinians? (Zogby Analytics, August 25-September 26, 2019, June 24 - July 5, 2020)

Country Desirable Undesirable
  2019 2020 2019 2020
UAE 84% 56% 16% 44%
Saudi Arabia 79% 41% 21% 59%
Egypt 73% 42% 27% 58%
Lebanon 49%   51%  
Jordan 72% 41% 28% 59%
Palestine 39% 31% 61% 69%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Major Factors for Viewing Normalization as “Desirable” (Zogby Analytics, June 24 - July 5, 2020)

Country #1 Reason #2 Reason
UAE Leverage Stop the Killing
Saudi Arabia Stop the Killing Resignation
Egypt Stop the Killing Resignation
Jordan Stop the Killing Resignation

 

 

 

 

 

 

If some Arab states do proceed with normalization, what areas, in your opinion, would be the most desirable to explore? [Select all that apply.] (Zogby Analytics, June 24 - July 5, 2020)

Country Egypt Jordan Saudi Arabia UAE Palestine
Mutually beneficial increases in trade and investment in health care and education 37% 25% 36% 44% 25%
Furthering shared interests around climate change, water and food security, technology and advanced science 32% 36% 40% 55% 34%
Working together to confront regional challenges from extremism to Iran 21% 27% 29% 36% 21%
Increased tourism 20% 18% 22% 21% 15%
None of these are desirable 26% 33% 30% 16% 34%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Sources: Neta Bar and Daniel Siryoti, “Poll finds growing support for ties with Israel in some Arab countries,” Israel Hayom, (October 12, 2020).
“The Annexation Debate,” Zogby Research Services [undated] (Survey: June 24 - July 5, 2020.