EGYPT: ISRAEL & DENMARK, EGYPTS TOP ENEMIES

'Israel, Denmark are Egypt's worst enemies'

Cairo - Israel and Denmark are Egypt's worst enemies, according to a poll measuring Egyptian attitudes to various countries published this week by a government body.

The study conducted by the cabinet's Information and Decision Support Centre, which questioned a random sample of 1 000 Egyptians over the age of 18, found that 92 percent consider Israel an enemy despite a peace deal signed in 1979 by both countries.

Only two percent of Egyptians interviewed considered Israel a "friend".

Over 60 percent of Egyptians also consider Denmark an enemy, after caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed were published in a Danish newspaper in 2005 sparking anger, and sometimes violence, across the Muslim World. Egypt's population is 90 percent Muslim.

Egypt's third enemy is the United States, according to over 50 percent of those interviewed for the poll.

On the other hand, Egypt's closest friend is considered by 92 percent of respondents to be Saudi Arabia, followed closely by Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan and Syria.

The cabinet body interviewed people by phone between August 31 and September 3, 2006. - Sapa-AFP


Israel is Egypts Enemy #1: according to 92% of 18 & over Egyptians

Denmark is Egypts Enemy #2: according to over 60% of 18 & over Egyptians

United States of America (donor of approximately $43 billion dollars) Enemy #3: according to over 50% of 18 & over Egyptians


Pertinent Links:

1) 'Israel, Denmark are Egypt's worst enemies'