Israel is ranked third among nations perceived as having a negative influence on the world, the BBC's annual poll shows, indicating further decline in the Jewish state's global image

The poll, undertaken between December 2011 and February 2012, encompassed 24,090 respondents worldwide. Iran took the unflattering top spot, again, with 55% of respondents saying that it has a negative influence on the world. Pakistan ranked second (51%), with Israel and North Korea tied for third place (50%). In 2011, 47% of poll respondents said Israel had a negative effect on the world. According to the latest survey, only 21% of respondents view Israel's influence as mostly positive, the same figure as in 2011. A favorable change in the West was only recorded in the United States, with 50% of Americans saying that they view Israel in a positive light, compared to 35% who said that they view the Jewish state in a negative light. The US figures constitute the highest approval rating for Israel by Americans since the poll's initiation, in 2005. Two more nations with favorable attitudes towards Israel are Nigeria (54%) and Kenya (46%). In post-revolution Egypt, 85% of respondents said that they view Israel in a negative light, a 7% rise from 2011. The Jewish state's situation is particularly grim in Europe, with 74% of Spaniards viewing Israel negatively. Negative attitudes were also recorded in France (65%), Germany (69%), Britain (68%), Australia (65%) and Canada (59%). Support for Israel also declined in China, India and Russia. According to the survey, the most beloved states in the world are Japan, Germany, Canada, Britain and China.