Israel Matzav

79% of Israeli Jews expect 'peace talks' to fail

Someone at the JPost needs to fix the headline (hopefully they will by the time you see this post). 79% of Israeli Jews don't believe the newest round of 'peace talks' will succeed. What a shock....

The poll found that seventy-nine percent of Israeli Jews think the new round of negotiations have a low chance of success of yielding a peace agreement, while 18% believe they have a high chance of succeeding. The numbers were very different among Arab Israelis, among whom 41% think there is a low chance of success and 47% believe there is a high chance.

There were also large differences between Jewish and Arab Israelis regarding their perception of the sincerity of the sides in the diplomatic talks. Among Israeli Jews, 63% believe the Israeli government is truly interested in returning to the negotiating table and just 29% believe the Palestinian Authority wants the negotiations. Among Arabs, 58% say the Israelis are sincere about the talks and 85% believe the Palestinians are truly interested in the negotiations. 

As for the prospects of a referendum on any potential deal passing....

Under the conditions of a permanent peace agreement with security arrangements, a demilitarized Palestinian state, international guarantees, and a Palestinian declaration of the end of conflict,  63% of Israeli Jews oppose withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders with land swaps, 58% oppose dismantling settlements while leaving the Ariel, Maale Adumim, and Gush Etzion blocs intact, and 50% oppose transferring Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem to the PA along with a special arrangement for the holy places. Seventy-seven percent of Israeli Jews oppose recognition of a Palestinian “right of return” involving the return of a small number of refugees and financial compensation for the rest.

If a referendum were held today on a peace agreement including withdrawal from Judea and Samaria and an evacuation of settlements, 58% of Jewish respondents and 33% of Arab respondents believe the agreement would be rejected by the people. Only 29% of Jewish respondents and 58% of Arab respondents believe it would win a majority.

Yes, each and every one of the items in the first paragraph was proposed by Ehud Olmert to Abu Mazen in 2008. Abu Mazen rejected the proposal.

And in a result that is sure to lead to cries of racism....

Eighty-eight percent of Israeli Arabs and 46% of Israeli Jews think that all Israeli citizens should vote in such a referendum, while four percent of Israeli Arabs and 49% of Israeli Jews think that the vote should be limited to Jewish citizens only.

Maybe Israeli Jews aren't so dumb after all. 

Labels: agreed land swaps, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, Judea and Samaria, Middle East peace process, Palestinian state, referendum law, settlement blocs

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:21 AM