On Passover, Israel concerned over world standing

By ARON HELLER, Associated Press – Mon Mar 29, 10:51 am ET
JERUSALEM – Nearly one out of every two Israelis thinks the country's international standing is poor following Israel's most serious crisis with the United States in decades, according to a poll published Monday on the eve of the Passover holiday.

As Jews around the world were making last-minute preparations for the spring festival — which marks the biblical story of the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt — a poll in the Maariv daily showed increasing concern following the open rift between the governments of the world's two largest Jewish centers.

The U.S. and Israel are at odds over Israeli construction in east Jerusalem, the section of the holy city claimed by the Palestinians. The U.S. is demanding that Israel halt building to facilitate peace talks. Israel says it can build anywhere in the city.