A majority, or 54 percent, now say they have a favorable view of the U.S. president. Poll: Obama rising with Israelis

In just a year, Jewish Israelis’ opinion of President Barack Obama has turned on its head, according to a new Saban Center for Middle East Policy poll.

A majority, or 54 percent, now say they have a favorable view of the U.S. president — a year ago, just 41 percent of those polled viewed Obama in a positive light.


In 2011, 39 percent say they have a negative opinion of Obama, another far cry from his 2010 numbers when 51 percent said they were not fans of Obama. That’s a net 25-point upswing for Obama in Israel.

The good news from Israel offsets the slight negative turn Obama has seen from Jewish American voters: In a Gallup poll released in September, four out of 10 said they disapproved of Obama, and his approval ratings fell from 60 percent in June to 55 percent.

Back in Israel, Obama appears in the list of top five world leaders Jews there say they admire most. With 6 percent, he comes just behind former President George W. Bush and former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, with 7 percent each, and former President Bill Clinton with 10 percent. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany reigns as the favorite with 12 percent saying she is the leader outside of Israel they most admire.

Overall, the U.S. fares extremely well with Israeli Jews — 80 percent say they have a favorable view of the country, according to the poll. However, 39 percent say they are discouraged with the Obama administration’s policy in the Middle East, and just 22 percent told pollsters they feel hopeful.

The 2011 Public Opinion Poll of Jewish and Arab Citizens of Israel, conducted in conjunction with Zogby International, surveyed 1,010 people living in Israel in November 2011.