(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – About two-thirds of people in Israel are against a peace proposal that would entail the creation of a Palestinian state, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research and the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 64 per cent of Israelis oppose the so-called Saudi plan, while 58 per cent of Palestinians support it.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – About two-thirds of people in Israel are against a peace proposal that would entail the creation of a Palestinian state, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research and the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 64 per cent of Israelis oppose the so-called Saudi plan, while 58 per cent of Palestinians support it.
Saudi Arabia has proposed the Arab Peace Initiative (API) to reconcile Israel and the Palestinians. The plan states that Israel will retreat from all territories occupied in 1967 including the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, and a Palestinian state would be established. The refugee issue—or the "right of return"—will be dealt with in accordance with United Nations (UN) Resolution 194. All Arab states would agree to recognize Israel and establish normal diplomatic relations.
Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas is currently heading the Palestinian Authority from the West Bank, endorsed by Israel and most of the Western international community. Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas became the de-facto leader in the Gaza Strip after his organization took over the territory in a violent confrontation with Fatah in June 2007.
On Mar. 3, Saudi foreign minister Saud al-Faisal told Israel that the proposed peace plan "cannot be open-ended" and that the initiative "will not remain forever on the table," adding, "The peace initiative was launched at the Beirut summit in 2002 but it did not meet with any Israeli response."
Polling Data
According to the Saudi plan, Israel will retreat from all territories occupied in 1967 including Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, and a Palestinian state will be established. The refugee problem will be resolved through negotiation in a just and agreed upon manner and in accordance with UN Resolution 194, which allows return of refugees to Israel and compensation. In return, all Arab states will recognize Israel and its right to secure borders, will sign peace treaties with her and establish normal diplomatic relations. Do you support or oppose the Saudi plan?
|
|
Israelis |
Palestinians |
|
Support |
33% |
58% |
|
Oppose |
64% |
39% |
|
Not sure |
3% |
3% |
Source: Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research / Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,270 Palestinian adults in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, conducted from Mar. 5 to Mar. 7, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent. Telephone interviews with 602 adult Israelis, conducted from Mar. 1 to Mar. 3, 2009. Margin of error is 4 per cent.
