Poll: 85% of Kuwaitis reject normalisation with Israel

A recent poll conducted by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy has shown that 85 per cent of Kuwaitis oppose normalising ties with Israel

The poll also found that 52 per cent support Hamas, which governs the besieged Gaza Strip, while 63 per cent accept the US proposal for Arab states to be involved in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, the New Khaliji reported yesterday.

Support for the US President Donald Trump among the 1.5 million Kuwaitis surveyed did not exceed five per cent, the poll found, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin received the same percentage. Meanwhile, 64 per cent support Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Regarding Iran’s allies, the poll found that only 11 per cent feel positively about Lebanon’s Hezbollah and 25 per cent feel positively about the Houthis in Yemen.

About the relationship with Iran, 52 per cent said Kuwait should maintain good relations with Tehran.

The overwhelming majority of the Kuwaitis, the poll found, believe their government does not strive to fight corruption, while between 30 to 40 per cent believe their government is working well regarding women rights, privacy and dealing with tax issues.

About 36 per cent of the Kuwaitis think that it is important to listen to those who try to explain Islam in a more moderate and modern way. The poll also found that 60 per cent believe that internal political and economic reform is more important than any issue of external interests.

Read: Kuwait reiterates rejection of Israel normalisation