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Diplomacy and International Institutions

Egyptians Frown on the United States and the Peace Treaty with Israel

By experts and staff

Published
  • James M. LindsayCFR Expert
    Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy
Anti-government protesters carry a placard and celebrate Mubarak’s departure in Tahrir square on February 11, 2011.
Anti-government protesters carry a placard and celebrate Mubarak’s departure in Tahrir square on February 11, 2011. (Yannis Behrakis/courtesy Reuters)

The Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project is out with a new poll on what Egyptians are thinking about the dramatic political changes they are experiencing. Egyptians are upbeat about their future, but they don’t look too kindly on the United States or the now three-decades-old peace treaty with Israel.

Some highlights:

The survey covers a lot more terrain, including insights into what Egyptians hope will come out of the ongoing political change. Not surprisingly, better economic conditions top the list. No matter the country, jobs come first.

The poll holds one bit of good news for the United States. Although Egyptians might not think highly of Washington or Barack Obama, most value having a relationship with the United States. Only a minority of Egyptians (43 percent) say they want U.S.-Egyptian relations to become “less close.” In comparison, 40 percent say they want relations to remain “as close” as they have been and 15 percent want them to be “closer.” Whether Washington can take advantage of this support will depend on what it has to offer Cairo as well as how the January 25 revolution eventually plays out.