Obama or McCain: Israel Debates

JERUSALEM, July 2, 2008 — -- Israelis believe that they, too, have a stake in the upcoming U.S. elections, and many appear to favor Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for his hawkish stand on Iraq and Islamic militants to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., who they fear will favor the Palestinians.

ABC NEWS.com conducted an unscientific survey among the students at Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Located on Mount Scopus in northeast Jerusalem, the university encompasses all sides of the Middle East conflicts. Jewish, Arab-Israeli and international students from all over the world are asking which American presidential candidate will be better for the region.

Many Israeli students said they are sad to see President Bush go.

"Over the last eight years, he was a really terrible president, bad for America, bad for the world economy," business student David Kishony said, "But he was the best friend of Israel."

Israeli Rotem Hermon, an Middle Eastern studies student, said most Israelis she knows support McCain.

"They feel that McCain will be a continuation of Bush, whose policies were Israel-centered," Hermon said. "And they're worried that Obama will be pro-Palestinian."

However, Hermon said that she personally does not agree with the "safer" option of choosing McCain for Israel.

"In my opinion, Bush was too focused on Israel," she said. "He perpetuated this crazy situation. We need someone who will force us to stop doing certain things in the territories and in Gaza, and threaten that if we don't, we won't get American money or support."

"Obama will be focused a little more on the Palestinian situation and will take a tough stand with us," Hermon said, "which will be better for Israel as a country."

Palestinian education student Ahlam Sappah said she cannot wait to see Bush go. "He wanted to fight all the countries. He was always looking for war," she said. "I'm looking for a change with Obama."

If Obama is elected, Sappah said she hopes he will be more peaceful in how he responds to the Palestinian struggle.

"A lot of attention with the last presidents have been on the wars and conflicts between people," she said.

"I hope that Obama will change this view and will give more to build peace in the Palestinian conflict to give more to help our education and economy."