Poll: Israel should have nuclear weapons

In a recent UPI-Zogby poll, Americans decided that Israel has a "right" to develop and possess nuclear munitions while thier Arab neighbours cannot.   The poll also showed that many queried suggested that Israel with such weapons is a barrier to peace in the region.  - The Angryindian

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While UPI-Zogby International poll respondents say Israel has a right to nuclear weapons, they also see Israel's having those arms making diplomacy difficult.

A total of 48.8 percent of the 4,824 U.S. residents told the Zogby interactive poll that "Israel should have nuclear weapons." There was a breakdown of 28.3 percent who strongly agreed and 20.5 percent somewhat agreed.

Another 24.4 percent strongly disagreed and 17.1 percent were in the somewhat disagree category.

But while a plurality saw Israel's right to own nuclear weapons, nearly two-thirds of those asked said Israel's possession of nuclear weapons makes it more difficult for the United States to deny other countries in the region the right to develop such weaponry.

A total of 31 percent strongly agreed with that and another 32 percent gave the "somewhat agree" answer. Some 20.2 percent strongly disagreed with the comment.

Nearly half -- 49 percent -- of those asked said Israel should be prepared to give up any nuclear program it has if it would help an agreement for a nuclear-free Middle East. Another 36.6 percent, however, disagreed with that idea.

The poll was conducted March 14-16 and carries a margin of error of 1.4 percentage points.