Mackenzie Weinger: Obama Rising With Israelis?

In just a year, Jewish Israelis' opinion of President Obama has turned on its head: A majority, or 54 percent, now say they have a favorable view of the US president. A year ago, just 41 percent of those polled viewed the president positively. In 2011, 39 percent said they had a negative image. That's a 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 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 Israel they most admire. Overall, the US fares extremely well with Israeli Jews, 80 percent say they have a favorable view of the country, according to the polls. However, 39 percent say they are discouraged with the Obama administration's policy in the Middle East, and just 22 percent told the 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 in Israel in November 2011.