Israel Matzav

Israelis awakening to reality

The monthly 'peace index' for January has been released and what it shows is that most Israelis are awakening to the reality that peace is not on the horizon (Hat Tip: IMRA).

Peace with Syria? The degree of the Jewish public’s readiness for a full peace with Syria in return for all of the Golan Heights, combined with its (dis)belief in the chances of this in the foreseeable future, is amazingly consistent over time: ever since 1994, about two-thirds oppose giving up the Golan for peace, and about the same percentage does not believe in the chances for peace with Damascus or in the sincerity of Assad’s declarations that he is interested in peace. In the Arab public, the majority is prepared for peace in return for the Golan and believes in Assad’s sincerity; as in the Jewish public, however, only a third believe in the chances that this will happen.

And with the Palestinians? A clear majority (68%) of the Jewish public thinks that the Palestinians do not see the two-state solution as the end of the road, and that even if a peace agreement is signed, the Palestinians will continue the struggle to create a Palestinian state in the entire Land of Israel. A recent survey in the territories, which was conducted by and American team, found that the majority of Palestinians indeed view the two-state formula as an interim stage, and believe the conflict will only end when a Palestinian state is established in all the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

Is there a possibility of a unilateral Palestinian declaration of independence? Fifty percent of the Jewish public thinks that, notwithstanding the stalled negotiations, the chances for a unilateral Palestinian declaration of independence are low, but a large minority (44%) sees the chances as high (this in contrast to the Arab public, in which only 28% estimate the chances as high). The Jewish public is split (48% for each side) on whether Israel can count on an American veto in the United Nations to prevent an overall recognition of the Palestinian state without a peace agreement (a majority of the Arabs expect a U.S. veto). This is apparently one of the reasons that a Jewish plurality (47% as opposed to 39%) views the present situation, in which there is no progress in negotiations, as bad for Israel’s national interests. Among the Arabs two-thirds see it that way.

Should organizations’ funding sources be investigated? A majority of the Jewish public (66.5%) and a small majority of the Arab public (53%) favors investigating the funding sources of the human rights and peace organizations. However, a much larger Jewish majority (84%, and a 62% majority of the Arabs) considers that, if it is decided to investigate the foreign funding, all the organizations should be investigated whatever their political positions. Seventy-two percent of the Jewish public think the investigation should be conducted by the legal authorities rather than by the Knesset, while only 14.5% say the opposite.

There were a number of articles in the weekend newspapers that warn that what's important about Palileaks is not the documents themselves but the motivations for publishing them and the reactions to them. David Horovitz wrote a long piece in the JPost asking what would happen if the 'Palestinians' actually said, "yes, this is what we said and it's time to realize that we have to compromise." But even Horovitz admits that's fanciful.

Labels: David Horovitz, Land for peace, Peace Index, two-state solution

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:48 AM