Poll: Israelis optimistic about John Paul II’s visit

JERUSALEM — A new Gallup poll showed most Israelis were upbeat about the visit of Pope John Paul II to the country, which began March 21.

Nearly 60 percent of 500 Jewish Israelis who were surveyed in the March 3 telephone poll said they viewed the pope’s visit as positive, while only 12 percent viewed the event negatively, according to the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel (ICCI), which sponsored the survey.

“These findings contradict the ‘conventional wisdom’ that Israelis are either negative or apathetic about the pope, Christianity and related matters,” said Ron Kronish, director of the ICCI.

One of the more surprising findings of the poll was that many Jewish Israelis apparently would like to learn more about Christianity.

Nearly 50 percent of those surveyed expressed interest in a dialogue with Christians, and only about one-quarter of those questioned felt the programs of the Israeli Ministry of Education are adequate in fostering understanding and mutual respect.