Poll: Israelis fear a nuclear Iran

JERUSALEM, May 22 (UPI) -- A poll of Israeli adults suggests 23 percent of the population would consider leaving the country if Iran obtains nuclear weapons.

The poll of 509 Israeli adults, conducted on behalf of the Center for Iranian Studies at Tel Aviv University, also found 85 percent of respondents would be afraid if Iran gained an atomic bomb and 57 percent believe planned dialogue between the United States and Iran will fail, Haaretz reported Friday.

The survey found 41 percent of those polled believe Israel should attack Iran's nuclear installations without waiting for the United States to attempt a diplomatic solution.

"The findings are worrying because they reflect an exaggerated and unnecessary fear," said professor David Menashri, the head of the center. "Iran's leadership is religiously extremist but calculated and it understands an unconventional attack on Israel is an act of madness that will destroy Iran. Sadly, the survey shows the Iranian threat works well even without a bomb and thousands of Israelis (already) live in fear and contemplate leaving the country."