Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East.
(From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Wednesday 27 July 2011

New Poll Shows Mixed Support Among Palestinians For A Two-State Solution

Between 20 June and 8 July this year, under the sponsorship of the Israel Project,  the American pollster Stanley Greenberg in partnership with the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion carried out a poll of 1,010 adult Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in an ‘intensive, face-to-face survey in Arabic’.

As the UK-based research organisation Just Journalism notes, there was mixed support among respondents for a two-state solution:
"Only 15 per cent of Palestinians polled viewed a ‘[t]wo state solution with independent Palestinian state side-by-side with Israel as a Jewish state’ positively, with 73 per cent disapproving of the idea as a solution to the conflict. When asked if they would accept a ‘two-state solution’ but without mentioning Israel’s Jewish character, 52 per cent were in favour and 44 per cent opposed.
In contrast to this, 51 per cent expressed support for a ‘one-state solution’ and only 27 per cent were against the idea.

52 per cent of respondents agreed that the establishment of two states should only be viewed as a first stage, after which it should ‘move to it all being one Palestinian state.’ Only 25 per cent agreed, to varying degrees, that ‘a two-state solution that keeps two states living side by side’ was preferable. [My emphasis]
Only seven per cent of Palestinians polled believed that ‘Israel has a permanent right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people’. 84 per cent instead agreed with the statement, ‘Over time Palestinians must work to get back all the land for a Palestinian state.’
On the topic of Jerusalem, only three per cent agreed it should be split between Israel and any future Palestinian state, whereas 92 per cent answered that it should serve only as the capital of Palestine."
Among other findings, as outlined by Just Journalism, is the following:
"The study highlights the extent to which extremism is deemed acceptable within some aspects of Palestinian society.
On the targeting of Israeli civilians and the glorification of attacks on civilians, more than a quarter, 29 per cent, of those asked fully supported the recent Itamar killings, in which 5 members of the Fogel family were murdered in their sleep, including an 11 year-old, a 4 year-old and a three month-old baby. Only 42 per cent described the attack as ‘wrong.’
61 per cent felt it would be right to ‘Nam[e] streets after Palestinian suicide bombers [...] who killed civilians in Israel.’ 27 per cent were opposed to this. Media elision of the culture of incitement found within the Palestinian territories was reported by Just Journalism earlier this year.
The figures concerning support for inciting hatred towards Jews by indoctrinating children were particularly worrying. 53 per cent felt that ‘Teaching songs and chants in Palestinian schools that talk about hating the Jews’ was legitimate, whilst only 34 per cent expressed opposition to the idea."
For a full analysis of the poll's results, and a link to the poll itself, see http://justjournalism.com/media-analysis/israel-project-poll-results-of-palestinian-public-opinion/
(Hat tip: reader Shirlee)

1 comment:

  1. http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2009/05/who-needs-palestinian-state.html

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