There are two results in the latest YouGov Egypt poll that should put some Americans' anxieties at ease. The first is that only 25 percent of Egyptians want an Islamic state, while 57 percent want "a state where the constitution uses Islamic law as one source of several sources for the constitution." The number that want an entirely secular state, though, is still lower than the number who want an Islamic state, with only 14 percent saying so. Remember, though, that "secular" has different connotations in Egypt than it does in the West, and the concept is tainted by its association with dictators.
More good news: Egyptians aren't huge fans of Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood who have disapproval ratings of 55 and 56 percent respectively. Bad news: Obama is even less well liked with a 59 percent disapproval rating. Though it should really be obvious, this is not a country eager to turn itself into an Islamist theocracy.
This, as YouGov President Peter Kellner writes, is also good news:
Finally, a finding that will come as a great relief to Israel and much of the international community: 60% think Egypt should continue to uphold the peace treaty agreed in 1978 at Camp David; just 27% think Egypt should now end the treaty and sever diplomatic relations with Israel.
Egyptians already have a civil war going on next door; it makes sense that they wouldn't want to escalate tensions with their neighbor on the other side. I don't think it's a coincidence that the number of people who want to sever relations with Israel are about the same number who want an Islamic state, but either way, we're talking about the political fringe. Let me put it this way: There is a larger percentage of birthers in the Republican Party than hardcore Islamists in Egypt.
