(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – A large proportion of adults in Israel would reject a prospective demand by U.S. president Barack Obama, according to a poll by Maagar Mochot. 70 per cent of respondents think Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu should not freeze construction in Jerusalem for an unlimited period of time.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – A large proportion of adults in Israel would reject a prospective demand by U.S. president Barack Obama, according to a poll by Maagar Mochot. 70 per cent of respondents think Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu should not freeze construction in Jerusalem for an unlimited period of time.
In addition, 83 per cent of respondents reject the imposition of a plan which would divide Jerusalem and leave Israel without control of the Jordan Valley.
In February 2009, Israeli voters renewed the Knesset. The Likud party, led by Netanyahu, secured 27 seats in the legislature. The far-right Israel Our Home, the Labour party, the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas), United Torah Judaism, and the Jewish Home joined Likud in a coalition. In March, Netanyahu was sworn in as prime minister.
Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Ariel Sharon’s cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan."
During the six-day war in 1967, Israel gained control of the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. 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, and a Palestinian state would be established.
In March, Israel announced it would build 1,600 homes in the Ramat Shlomo area of eastern Jerusalem. The decision was criticized by U.S. state secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, who declared: "We objected to this announcement because we are committed to Israel and its security, which we believe depends on a comprehensive peace."
On Apr. 15, Rodham Clinton once again criticized Israel, saying, "Prime Minister Netanyahu has embraced the vision of the two-state solution. But easing up on access and movement in the West Bank, in response to credible Palestinian security performance, is not sufficient to prove to the Palestinians that this embrace is sincere. We encourage Israel to continue building momentum toward a comprehensive peace by demonstrating respect for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, stopping settlement activity and addressing the humanitarian needs in Gaza."
Polling Data
In your opinion, should Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agree to the demand of President Obama, according to which Israel should freeze construction in Jerusalem for an unlimited period of time?
|
Yes
|
19%
|
|
No
|
70%
|
|
Don’t know / Other replies
|
11%
|
According to various reports, President Obama will try to impose an arrangement on the sides according to which, among other things, Israel does not control the Jordan Valley and Jerusalem is divided. Do you want President Obama to impose his plan on the parties?
|
Yes
|
8%
|
|
No
|
83%
|
|
Don’t know / Other replies
|
9%
|
Source: Maagar Mochot
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 511 Israeli adults, conducted on Apr. 11 and Apr. 12, 2010. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.
