Poll: Terror driving Israelis further right

THE JERUSALEM POST STAFF AND ITIM ^ | 08-07-02 | THE JERUSALEM POST STAFF AND ITIM

[scratchgolfer]

Poll: Terror driving Israelis further right

By THE JERUSALEM POST STAFF AND ITIM

Public opinion continued moving to the right this year in the face of the ongoing Palestinian terror campaign, with only 37% supporting the principle of land for peace, compared to 53% in 1997, according to Israeli Public Opinion on National Security, 2002, produced by Prof. Asher Arian of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University.

Terrorism's impact on society was clearly reflected in the poll. "Israelis were worried to an unprecedented degree both about their personal security and about the state of Israel's national security, with 92% of respondents expressing fear that they or a member of their family would fall victim to a terrorist attack," Arian wrote in the summary which was released yesterday,

In response, Israelis showed "a shift to less conciliatory postures on almost all issues." A total of 27% expressed support for suspending the peace process, even if this leads to war.

The poll, which sampled 1,264 Israelis between January 29 and February 27, was conducted by Arian and the Mashov polling company.

It found that 45% believe the Israeli-Arab dispute can be resolved militarily, compared to 36% who say this is not possible. Support for a Palestinian state within the framework of a peace agreement dropped from 57% last year to 49% this year. However, only 54% believe a Palestinian state will be created within five years, compared to 74% who believed so in 2000.

Twenty-three percent of those polled believe the current violence can be stopped militarily, while 52% believe that while perhaps it cannot be stopped altogether, its scope or duration can be reduced.

The poll found that 81% support the idea of unilaterally creating buffer zones that do nor require the IDF to withdraw from Palestinian Authority-controlled territory.

Fifty-seven percent oppose the renewal of talks with PA Chairman Yasser Arafat and back his expulsion, while 17% want to renew negotiations with him, and oppose expelling him.

Forty-six percent support the idea of a "transfer" of Palestinians, while 31% support a similar move involving Israeli Arabs. However, Arian noted that even in 1991, 38% supported a "transfer" for Palestinians and 24% for Israeli Arabs.

A total of 80% oppose allowing Israeli Arab participation in deciding vital issues regarding borders, and most oppose Arab parties' participation in the government.

Fifty-eight percent believe Israel should encourage the US to attack Iraq, while a similar number believe Israel is prepared for a missile attack. In addition, 46% believe that if Israel is attacked by Iraq with non-conventional weapons, it should attack with the same kind of weapon, be it chemical or biological.

Arian also pointed out that "when asked to place themselves on a seven-point scale if a choice has to be made between legal procedures and security interests, most Israeli Jews opted for security interests."

[American in Israel]

According to this poll, the intifadda is a failure for Arafat. But still it goes on. I think Arafat has a different reason to play intifadda, I think Arafat wants to use the Palestinians to start a war for the Arab League. In that instance, the intifadda is working. That is why the intifadda is still going on. IMHO

[finnman69]

No wonder you see an effort by the peacnik liberal Israelis to get their message on the news. They know they are in the minority.

[John O]

The only sensible foreign policy:

Yell at me and I will yell back
Push me and I will push back
Hit me and I will hit back
Hurt me bad enough and I will wipe you off the face of the earth

Looks like Israel is implementing it. (And it's bout time)

God Save America (Please)

[LS]

About FREAKING time.