Survey: Israel has ‘severe’ image woes

Most Israelis think Israel has a severe image problem around the world and want to help fix it, a survey found.

Results of the survey of 495 Jewish Israelis conducted for the Information and Diaspora Ministry were released last week.

Some 91 percent of respondents said that Israel has a “severe” or “very severe” image problem in the diaspora. Ninety percent said that Israel is viewed by those outside the Jewish state as a country that “suffers of terror and war.” Another 80 percent said Israel is looked upon as an “aggressive country.”

Some 85 percent of respondents said they would be willing to participate in Israel’s public relations campaign and represent Israel while they are traveling abroad. Israelis traveled abroad more than 4.2 million times last year.

The survey was conducted by the Kelim Shluvim Research Institute. — jta