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By IslamOnline Staff DOHA (IslamOnline) - Most Muslims consider another war with Israel unavoidable as they believe the Jewish state remains the "ultimate enemy," according to a recent opinion poll by IslamOnline carried out on the occasion of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Of 2,603 Muslims electronically polled in Arabic, 98%, or 2,203 people, said Israel was "the enemy." Only two percent, or 41 people, agreed that Israel was "a regional competitor" that can be "dealt with." To the question whether the 1973 October War was the last between Muslims and Israelis, 95% said no. An earlier survey by the Doha-based Arabic portal, carried out only two weeks before the start of current clashes between Israelis and Palestinians, found that 89% of those polled believed Israel was the enemy - nine percent less than the current figure. Only 86% said 1973 war was the last one, again, nine percent less than the recent survey. The results of the recent survey were telling of how Israel is currently perceived in the Arab and the Muslim worlds after 11 days of clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian demonstrators. The IslamOnline report indicates the increase in voices calling Israel the enemy comes as a direct result of intensifying Israeli atrocities against Palestinians in a tense atmosphere dominated by the conflict. Some 90 people, mostly Palestinians, have thus far died in the clashes, with hundreds more injured. Meanwhile, Israel states that it is stepping up preparations to combat Palestinian demonstrators. Israeli officials have said they were preparing for a "small-scale war." On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak issued a 48-hour deadline for Palestinians to cease violent demonstrations. Israel has previously used helicopters, tanks and rockets to quell what is now known as the "second uprising." Anger has been steadily mounting in the Islamic world after hard-line Israeli Likud party leader Ariel Sharon visited al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site. Thousands of people have been demonstrating in Muslim capitals across the Islamic world in solidarity with the Palestinians. People have even marched in the capitals of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, countries with hardly any record of public demonstrations. An emergency summit, the first in four years, for the 22 Arab countries is due to convene in Cairo on October 21st to discuss the latest developments and the future of the deadlocked Middle East peace process. |
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