An international survey conducted by British pollsters suggests that Israel and Iran are seen as having negative influences on the world.

The poll, conducted by the BBC World Service, involved 28,000 people in 27 countries. Respondents were asked whether each of a dozen countries and the European Union had positive or negative influences on the world, the BBC said.


Israel was seen by a majority as having a negative influence, with the greatest amount of negative opinions coming from Muslim nations in the Middle East. Iran, which has been embroiled in controversy over its nuclear program, rated just behind Israel in terms of negative opinions. The most positive opinions about Iran came from other Muslim countries.


Following Israel and Iran were the United States and North Korea. (emphasis added)