Surprising? . . . Not even a little

Via RT:

Israel is one of the most disliked nations in the world among Britons, following a surge in anti-Israeli sentiment in 2014.

The country is viewed so unfavorably by UK citizens that even Iran, a nation known for its brutal suppression of protests, is not disliked as much.

North Korea topped the list as the most reviled nation outside Europe in the survey conducted by think tank Chatham House on British attitudes towards other countries. […]

Published in a report, ‘Internationalism or Isolationism? British attitudes towards the UK’s international priorities,’ the survey probes British views of other countries, as well as the UK’s role in international affairs.

Conducted in August 2014, the survey is likely to have been influenced by Israel’s Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, launched July 8.

Widely reported by world media, the conflict resulted in the deaths of an estimated 2,192 Palestinians and 6 Israelis, according to UN figures.

Israel’s popularity dropped significantly in the survey, with 35 percent of respondents saying they felt “especially unfavorable” towards the country, compared to 17 percent expressing the same sentiment in June 2012.

Iran meanwhile fared marginally better than Israel, with 33 percent of Britons feeling “especially unfavorable” to the republic compared to 45 percent – the highest figure at the time – feeling the same way in 2012.