Sunday, July 26, 2009

Israelis Stand by Yesha Building


Hillel Fendel
A7 News

Israelis are about equally split on whether construction of new communities in Judea and Samaria is as important or less important than new construction in the Negev and Galilee. This is one of the findings of a poll carried out by the Maagar Mohot (Brain Base) Survey Institute and commissioned by Independent Media Review and Analysis (IMRA). Another survey result shows that Israeli Jews believe by a wide margin – 70-15 – that an autonomous Palestinian entity would serve Israel’s interests better than a sovereign Palestinian state.

The telephone poll of a representative sample of 526 adult Israeli Jews was carried out during the week of July 19.

The poll also found that most Israeli Jews believe, by a 62-27 margin, that the goal of PA leader Mahout Abbas is ultimately to replace Israel, as opposed to the oft-stated Arab goal of merely establishing a new state aside Israel.

In any event, Israelis overwhelmingly believe that no matter what Abbas believes or states, future Palestinian leaders will not honor the agreements he signs.

Regarding the importance of the so-called "demographic problem," the poll found that despite disagreement among experts on whether it truly endangers Israel, Israeli Jews believe by more than a 4-1 margin that Israeli decision-makers must strongly consider it when negotiating with the PA.

Some of the questions and answers follow:

Q. Where is it more important in your opinion to build and establish new Jewish communities today: in the territories of Judea and Samaria, or the Negev and Galilee?

A. 8% said Judea and Samaria, and 37% said “both to the same extent.” As opposed to these 45%, 48% said that building in the Negev and Galilee is more important.

Q. In your opinion, should Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu insist that the Palestinians also freeze all new construction in the territories of Judea and Samaria, in order to prevent new facts in the area, in the case that such a freeze also applies to Israel?

A. Yes 71%, No 20%

Q. What do you think is the ultimate goal of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and other leaders acting to establish a Palestinian state: a Palestinian state that exists next to the State of Israel, or a Palestinian state that will ultimately exist in place of the State of Israel?

A. 27% said his goal is to build a state aside Israel, while 62% said his goal is to replace Israel.

Q. To what extent do you think that the Palestinian commitment of Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) also commits other Palestinian leaders in the future?

A. 58% - Does not commit

18% - So-so

12% Commits

Q. According to experts, the "demographic problem," according to which in the future there could be a non-Jewish majority in the State of Israel, could reach critical levels in decades, and there are experts who maintain that this won't happen at all. Do you think that the "demographic problem" should be an important or marginal factor for Israeli decision makers dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

A. Marginal 17%, Important 72%

Q. What do you think better serves Israeli interests: a sovereign Palestinian State, or a Palestinian autonomy in which the Palestinians control their daily lives but their borders and airspace are under Israeli control?

A. Sovereign Palestinian state 15%, Palestinian autonomy 70%

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