Polls & Research

Israelis Disagree with Olmert on PA Gestures

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many Israeli adults believe their prime minister was wrong to make specific concessions to the Palestinian Authority president, according to a poll by Maagar Mochot released by Israel Radio. 49 per cent of respondents oppose the gestures that Ehud Olmert granted to Mahmoud Abbas in their meeting.

On Dec. 23, Abbas and Olmert met in Jerusalem. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saab Erekat declared that Israel has agreed to transfer $100 million U.S. of tax revenue to the Palestinian Authority.

Abbas, the leader of the Fatah faction, won the January 2005 presidential ballot with 62.32 per cent of all cast ballots. In January 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian Legislative Council election, securing 74 of the 112 seats at stake. Ismail Haniyeh officially took over as prime minister on Mar. 28. The Israeli government believes Hamas is directly responsible for the deaths of 377 citizens in a variety of attacks, which include dozens of suicide bombings.

In April, the European Commission and the United States suspended direct aid to the Palestinian Authority until Hamas "renounces violence." In June, Israel launched a military operation in response to a joint raid carried out by Palestinian militants on a military post outside of the Gaza Strip, in which two Israeli soldiers were killed, and one more, Gilad Shalit, was captured. On Nov. 26, a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant groups based in Gaza came into effect.

Yesterday, Israeli cabinet minister Zeev Boim said the government has ruled out freeing any Palestinian prisoners before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha unless Shalit is released, adding, "I think that a gesture that in normal times is accepted at holiday time must not happen today because it would be misinterpreted."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose the gestures that Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert granted to Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas in their meeting?