Here are the results (pdf) of a phone survey in Cairo and Alexandria between February 5 and 8, conducted by Pechter Middle East Polls and funded by the The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Take them for what they’re worth– although I would argue that they are at least as indicative of Egyptian public opinion as photos and videos from Tahrir Square and anecdotal accounts of events there. Perhaps even more so.
Key Findings:
•This is not an Islamic uprising. The Muslim Brotherhood is “approved” by just 15%, and its leaders get barely 1% in a presidential straw vote. Asked to pick national priorities, just 12% choose shariah over national power, democracy, or economic development. Asked to explain the uprising, economic conditions, corruption, and unemployment (30‐40% each) far outpace “regime not Islamic enough” (7%).
•Surprisingly, asked two different ways about the peace treaty with Israel, more support it (37%) than oppose it (22%). Only 18% approve of either Hamas or Iran. And a mere 5% say the uprising occurred because the regime is “too pro‐Israel.”
•El Baradei has very little popular support in a presidential straw vote (4%), far outpaced by Amr Musa (29%). But Mubarak and Omar Suleiman each get 18%.
•A narrow plurality (36% vs. 29%) say Egypt should have good relations with the U.S. And just 8% say the uprising is against a “too pro‐American regime.” Still, something over half disapprove of our handling of this crisis and say they don’t trust the U.S. at all.
The attitude toward the peace treaty with Israel is indeed surprising– especially given the utterly cold nature of the peace, and the hostility to Israel encouraged by Egyptian state media (with Mubarak’s approval) over the years.
Update: CNN interviews Wael Ghonim, the Google executive who helped start the Egyptian uprising and was recently released from detention.
(Hat tip: Sophia)
Further update: Cartman in Cairo.
