The 'Palestinians' phased plan
Something tells me that we won't hear a whole lot about
this survey outside of Israel. A survey of 'Palestinians' shows that six out of ten reject the 'two-state solution.' And 73% of 'Palestinians' believe in the infamous Hadith that calls on Muslims to kill all Jews hiding behind stones and trees.
Only one in three Palestinians (34 percent) accepts two states for two peoples as the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to an intensive, face-to-face survey in Arabic of 1,010 Palestinian adults in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip completed this week by American pollster Stanley Greenberg.
The poll, which has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points, was conducted in partnership with the Beit Sahour-based Palestinian Center for Public Opinion and sponsored by the Israel Project, an international nonprofit organization that provides journalists and leaders with information about the Middle East.
The Israel Project is trying to reach out to the Arab world to promote “people-to-people peace.” The poll appears to indicate that the organization has a difficult task ahead.
Respondents were asked about US President Barack Obama’s statement that “there should be two states: Palestine as the homeland for the Palestinian people and Israel as the homeland for the Jewish people.”
Just 34% said they accepted that concept, while 61% rejected it.
Sixty-six percent said the Palestinians’ real goal should be to start with a two-state solution but then move to it all being one Palestinian state.
Asked about the fate of Jerusalem, 92% said it should be the capital of Palestine, 1% said the capital of Israel, 3% the capital of both, and 4% a neutral international city.
Seventy-two percent backed denying the thousands of years of Jewish history in Jerusalem, 62% supported kidnapping IDF soldiers and holding them hostage, and 53% were in favor or teaching songs about hating Jews in Palestinian schools.
When given a quote from the Hamas Charter about the need for battalions from the Arab and Islamic world to defeat the Jews, 80% agreed. Seventy-three percent agreed with a quote from the charter (and a hadith, or tradition ascribed to the prophet Muhammad) about the need to kill Jews hiding behind stones and trees.
There is some 'good news' in the survey as well, and the rest of the JPost article I just linked tries to put it in a more positive light.
Read the whole thing. But the bottom line is that for the 'Palestinians,' the only end to this conflict is what it has been for the last century: Throwing the Jews into the sea (God forbid). And this poll - a face-to-face poll by a respected American pollster working with a 'Palestinian' partner cannot be attacked as a 'push poll' or as otherwise biased. It's time to face reality.
What could go wrong?
Labels: Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, Palestinian opinion survey, Stanley Greenberg, two-state solution
Nearly half of 'Palestinians' support armed attacks on Israeli civilians inside the 1949 armistice lines
Peace is most definitely
not at hand. Aaron Lerner has some highlights from a very
comprehensive survey of 'Palestinians' that shows that
peace is nothing but a pipe dream.
M3) In your view, can people in the West Bank today criticize the authority without fear?
West Bank Yes 33.8 No 62.2 DK-NA 4.0
M3-1) In your view, can people in the Gaza Strip today criticize the authority without fear?
Gaza Strip Yes 16.3 No 80.4 DK-NA 3.3
05) Do current political, security, and economic conditions lead you to seek emigration abroad?
West Bank
Certainly seek 6.0 Seek 14.6 Do not seek 34.4 Certainly do not seek 44.9
Gaza Strip
Certainly seek 14.8 Seek 22.0 Do not seek 36.4 Certainly do not seek 26.0
20) The Palestinian society confronts today various problems, like the continuation of occupation and settlements, the spread of unemployment and poverty, the lack of national unity due to the split between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the continuation of the siege and blockade of the Gaza Strip and the closure of its border crossings, the spread of corruption in public institutions, and others. Tell us, what in your opinion, is the problem you see as the most fundamental, the one that must be on the top priority of the Palestinian Authority?
1) Continuation of occupation and settlements, 22.0
2) Spread of unemployment and poverty 27.5
3) Lack of national unity due to the split between the West 28.3
4) Continuation of the siege and blockade of the Gaza Strip 8.0
5) The spread of corruption in public institutions 11.3
88)DK/NA 0.9
99)Other 1.8
[21-1 & 21-2 Obtain the right of return to refuges to their 1948 towns and
villages as first or second goal: 65%]
21-1) From among the following vital national goals, which in your view should the first most important one and which should be the second most important goal that the Palestinian people should strive to achieve?
The first is:
1. Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital 45.4
2. Obtain the right of return to refuges to their 1948 towns and villages 27.2
3. Establish a democratic political system that respects freedoms and rights of Palestinians 10.3
4. Build a pious or moral individual and a religious society, one that applies all Islamic teachings 17.1
21-2) From among the following vital national goals, which in your view should the first most important one and which should be the second most important goal that the Palestinian people should strive to achieve?
The second is:
1) Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders and the establishm 22.4
2) Obtain the right of return to refuges to their 1948 towns 37.8
3) Establish a democratic political system that respects fre 25.1
4) Build a pious or moral individual and a religious society 14.6
22) Now after the latest events in Egypt and the cessation of talk about the Egyptian role in Palestinian reconciliation, what are your expectations for the future of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip?
1) Unity will resume in the near future 20.8
2) Unity will resume but will take a long time 50.4
3) Unity will not resume and two separate entities will emerge 21.2
4) DK/NA 7.6
42) [Only for WB] If demonstrations in order to change the ruling regime in the West Bank were to take place in the West Bank, do you think you would want to participate in them?
Certainly want to participate 6.5 Want 17.1
Do not want 51.0 Certainly do not want 22.6
DK/NA 2.8
44) [Only for Gaza] If demonstrations in order to change the ruling regime in the Gaza Strip were to take place in the Gaza Strip, do you think you would want to participate in them?
Certainly want to participate 18.1 Want to 32.1
Do not want 34.0 Certainly do not 13.8
DK/NA 2.1
46) All of the Palestinians demand an end to the split between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. But the question is how. We want you to help us in selecting the best means of ending the split by telling us if you agree or disagree with the following statement:
President Abbas must end the split by agreeing to Hamas conditions even if this leads to the return of international and Israel financial and political boycott of the Palestinian Authority and even if the price was the inability of the PA to pay the
salaries of employees and security services.
Certainly agree 5.9 Agree 27.5
Disagree 41.8 Certainly Disagree 18.8
DK/NA 5.9
47) If the split ends but the financial and political boycott returned and the PA was unable to pay salaries or deliver some services, would this pose a threat or a danger to you or to your town or city or to the Palestinian people as a whole?
Certainly pose a threat 25.4 Pose a threat 43.4
Would not pose a threat 25.6 Certainly would not 2.3
DK/NA 3.3
50) If Hamas agrees to pay the price of ending the split by accepting agreements signed with Israel, would this pose a threat or a danger to you or to your town or city or to the Palestinian people as a whole?
Certainly pose a threat 8.2 Pose a threat 34.8
Would not pose a threat 45.9 Certainly would not 4.9
DK/NA 6.2
54) What do you expect to happen between Palestinians and Israelis now after the US has used its veto power against the UNSC resolution regarding Israeli settlements?
Negotiations 21.0 Negotiations but some armed attacks 36.0
No negotiations or armed attacks 15.7 No negotiations - armed attacks
increase 19.6
DK/NA 7.7
55) Now more than 40 years after the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, what in your view are the chances for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state next to the state of Israel in the next five years? Are they high, medium, low, or none existent?
None existent 28.9 Low 38.3 Medium 26.7 High 4.8 DK/NA 1.4
60) There is a proposal that after the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the settlement of all issues in dispute, including the refugees and Jerusalem issues, there will be a mutual recognition of Israel as the state of the Jewish people and Palestine as the state of the Palestinians people. Do you agree or disagree to this proposal?
Certainly agree 3.8 Agree 44.6 Disagree 35.7 Certainly Disagree 14.1
DK/NA 1.8
61) In light of the termination of negotiations, how do you propose going about ending occupation and building a Palestinian state? If you were to choose from among the following priorities, which one you would prefer?
1) Going to the UN Security Council to obtain recognition of a Palestinian
state 33.0
2) Return to armed confrontations and attacks against Israel 24.5
3) Organizing widespread peaceful and nonviolent confrontations 18.4
4) Dissolve the PA 16.6
5) Other (specify: -------) 2.0
6) DK/NA 5.5
62) If the Palestinian side decides to go the security council to obtain recognition of a Palestinian state, do you think the US will use its veto power against such a resolution?
Certainly yes 33.5 Yes 41.5 No 12.0 Certainly no 4.6 DK/NA 8.4
64) And what about the US role in the peace process in the future, do you support or oppose a large role for the US?
Certainly support 1.5 Support 25.9 Oppose 52.6 Certainly oppose 16.6
DK/NA 3.4
65) If at the end of 2011 the Palestinian side unilaterally declares the establishment of a Palestinian state without an agreement with Israel, do you think such a declaration will lead to actual change on the current conditions in the Palestinian areas with regard to settlements and control of the occupation forces over roads and crossings in the West Bank?
Certainly positive change 2.2 Change to the better 22.2
Will not lead to any change, positive or negative 40.5
Negative change 27.0 Certainly negative change 5.0
DK/NA 3.1
66) In light of the successes achieved by the peaceful revolts in Arab countries like Egypt and Tunisia, do you think that if a peaceful popular revolution is to erupt against the occupation and the settlements in the West Bank it would be capable of ending occupation or stopping settlements?
Certainly capable 2.7 Capable 28.5 Incapable 51.2 Certainly incapable 14.8
DK/NA 2.9
67) With regard to the attack in Itamar settlement near Nabus few days
ago which led to the death of a family of five. Do you support or oppose
this attack?
West Bank
Certainly support 3.4 Support 16.9 Oppose 51.3 Certainly oppose 24.3 DK/NA
4.2
Gaza Strip
Certainly support 9.1 Support 41.9 Oppose 36.9 Certainly oppose 5.9 DK/NA
6.2
69) Concerning armed attacks against Israeli civilians inside Israel, I
Strongly support 9.2 Support 33.8 Oppose 43.4 Strongly appose 11.2 DK/NA
2.4 [Those are overall numbers. CiJ]
West Bank
Strongly support 6.9 Support 25.7 Oppose 50.4 Strongly appose 14.6 DK/NA
2.4
Gaza Strip
Strongly support 13.2 Support 47.2 Oppose 31.8 Strongly appose 5.4 DK/NA 2.4
Read the whole thing.
This much should be clear: Most 'Palestinians' have not given up on the goal of extirpating the existence of the State of Israel. Large numbers, including a majority in Gaza, believe in terrorism regardless of where it takes place. Most 'Palestinians' do not trust the United States and do not want it to play a role in the 'peace process.' A plurality of 'Palestinians' wants to try the UN gambit, but most of them do not believe it will work.
What could go wrong?
Labels: Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, Palestinian opinion survey
What everyone doesn't know
'Everyone knows' that a 'final status' agreement between Israel and the 'Palestinians' will look roughly like the Clinton parameters of December 2000: A 'Palestinian state' more or less along the 1967 borders, some land swap with Israel to avoid massive uprooting of revenants, a shared Jerusalem as capital of both states, no right of return for 'Palestinian refugees.' Is that a fair summary of what 'everyone knows'?
The summary has a slight problem. A new survey shows that a solid majority of 'Palestinians' would
reject that deal, while a majority of Israelis would accept it subject to the 'Palestinian state' being demilitarized and the number of Jews being uprooted being minimized. The bottom line: The 'Palestinians' reject what 'everyone knows' is the 'solution.'
A new poll conducted jointly by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research and the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace shows that the Palestinian public opposes such a solution by a lopsided majority.
The poll presented a package modeled on the Clinton Parameters: (1) an Israeli withdrawal from more than 97 percent of the West Bank and a land swap for the remaining 2-3 percent; (2) a Palestinian state with a “strong security force” but no army, with a multinational force to ensure security; (3) Palestinian sovereignty over land, water, and airspace, but an Israeli right to use the airspace for training purposes and to maintain two West Bank early-warning stations for 15 years; (4) a capital in East Jerusalem and sovereignty over Arab neighborhoods and the Old City (other than the Jewish Quarter and the “Wailing Wall”); and (5) a “right of return” for refugees to the new state and compensation for their “refugeehood” and loss of property.
The package was opposed by 58 percent of the Palestinians, with only 40 percent favoring it.
It was not a case of one or more individual elements in the package causing a problem. Each of the five elements was polled separately; not one of them commanded majority support.
Did someone forget to tell the 'Palestinians' what everyone knows? If not, why won't they just get with the program? What could go wrong?
Read the whole thing.
Labels: Clinton parameters, Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace, Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, Palestinian polls
Something tells me that we won't hear a whole lot about this survey outside of Israel. A survey of 'Palestinians' shows that six out of ten reject the 'two-state solution.' And 73% of 'Palestinians' believe in the infamous Hadith that calls on Muslims to kill all Jews hiding behind stones and trees. 
