Does this mean we get the Sinai back?
More than half of all Egyptians would like to see the 1979 peace treaty with Israel annulled, according to a poll conducted by the US-based Pew Research Center.
The results of the poll, released on Monday, highlight the deep unpopularity of the three-decade-old treaty, which is central to US policy in the region and was scrupulously adhered to by former President Hosni Mubarak, until his Feb. 11 ouster.
The poll also revealed that most Egyptians are optimistic about where the country is headed following the 18-day popular uprising that brought down the president, and they look forward to greater democracy in their country.
The fall of Egypt’s autocratic leader and the rise of a more democratic system, however, could threaten relations with neighboring Israel.
According to the poll results, only 36% of Egyptians are in favor of maintaining the treaty, compared with 54% who would like to see it scrapped.
Despite the decades of peace and limited trade between the two countries, most Egyptian view the Israelis poorly, largely because of perceptions that they mistreat the Palestinians.
Opinions varied according to income, with 60% of lower income Egyptians supporting the treaty’s cancellation while only 45% of the wealthier classes thinking it should be done away with.
Only 40% of Egyptians with a college education felt the treaty should be scrapped, as well.
The findings can be found here, including this interesting one:
Egyptian Muslims who sympathize with those who disagree with Islamic fundamentalists are nearly evenly divided in their views on the peace treaty; 48% favor maintaining the treaty with Israel and 51% say their country should annul the treaty. Among those who sympathize with fundamentalists or who do not choose a side, the balance of opinion is in favor of annulling the treaty. About half (51%) of Muslims who agree with Islamic fundamentalists say the treaty should be annulled, while just about a third (34%) favor maintaining it.
It looks like hatred for Israel unites many Egyptians.
On the positive side, our popularity is increasing in Syria.
