Poll finds Islam-West rift widening

A Gallup poll conducted for this week’s World Economic Forum finds a widening gap in relations between Islamic and Western nations. The poll of citizens in 21 countries found that people surveyed believe relations between the Islamic and Western worlds are deteriorating. The worst results came from the United States, Denmark and Israel, where more than 80% of those surveyed felt relations between the two worlds were getting worse.

Those surveyed in Muslim countries said they did not feel respected by the West, while those in Western countries felt that Muslim countries do not respect them.

Respondents though did not feel that a violent conflict was inevitable between the Western and Islamic worlds. And while most Europeans said they did not think increased contact between the Western and Muslim worlds would improve relations, a majority of people in the US and Israel believe that more interaction will lead to better relations.