August 26, 2003

Abstract: (CPOD) Aug. 26, 2003 - Israeli residents view Palestinian Authority president Yasser Arafat as a negative influence in the area, according to a poll by the Dahaf Institute published in Yediot Ahronot. 53 per cent of respondents support Arafat's expulsion from the disputed territories.

(CPOD) Aug. 26, 2003 - Israeli residents view Palestinian Authority president Yasser Arafat as a negative influence in the area, according to a poll by the Dahaf Institute published in Yediot Ahronot. 53 per cent of respondents support Arafat's expulsion from the disputed territories.

After days of relative calm, the fragile ceasefire in the Middle East came to an end last week. A Palestinian suicide bomb in a Jerusalem bus resulted in 20 fatalities. Israel retaliated by killing Hamas leader Ismail Abu Shanab in a missile strike.

Yesterday, Arafat appointed Jibril Rajoub as the new national security advisor. The move is expected to cause further detachment between Arafat and prime minister Mahmoud Abbas.

Polling Data

Would you support or oppose the expulsion of Yasser Arafat from the Palestinian territories?

Support	53%
Oppose	39%

Source: Dahaf Institute / Yediot Ahronot
Methodology: Interviews to 501 Israeli residents, conducted from Aug. 21 to Aug. 23, 2003. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.