Israel Matzav

That's all? Plurality of Israeli Jews say only Jews should decide on territorial concessions

In an annual poll by the Israel Democracy Institute, a plurality of 30% of Israeli Jews believes that only Israeli Jews ought to decide on territorial concessions in Judea and Samaria. I'm actually surprised the number isn't much higher.

The poll found that for final approval of a peace deal that includes withdrawal from the West Bank and evacuation of settlements, 30.6 percent said the matter should be decided by a Jewish majority in a referendum.

Another 24.7% said that all citizens of Israel should decide in a referendum, 24.9% said that the Knesset should make the decision, 9.1% said that it should be decided by rabbis and religious leaders, 3.8% said that no one has the authority to make such a decision, and 6.9% refused to answer.

The numbers were very different among Arab respondents, 45.2% of whom said all citizens should make the decision in a referendum. A surprising 11% said there should be a Jewish majority, 9.7% said the Knesset, 9% religious leaders, 13.5% said no one has the authority to make such a decision, and 11.6% refused to answer.

Those who are opposed to having 'all citizens of Israel' decide rightly fear than an evenly divided Jewish population will place the decision in the hands of the Arabs. As I have stated many times, the Knesset is not truly representative because we vote for parties rather than individuals and in most cases we have no control over whom the party sends to the Knesset and how they vote.

I wonder why they didn't give the Supreme Court as an option. After all, that's who really controls this country.

Labels: Israeli democracy, Israeli Knesset, Middle East peace process, Supreme Court, unilateral concessions

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:32 PM