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Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Israelis Think Calm Agreement Will Be Short
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in Israel believe a recent calm agreement reached with Hamas will not last, according to a poll by Shvakim Panorama released by Israel Radio. 40.6 per cent of respondents support the deal, and 74.8 per cent think it will be in place only for a short time.
In February 2007, Hamas and Fatah leaders reached an accord which set the guidelines for a power-sharing Palestinian administration, headed by Hamas. In June, amid a wave of violent clashes between Hamas and Fatah factions, Hamas militants seized control of Gaza. Abbas issued a decree to form a 12-member emergency government based in the West Bank and expelled Hamas from the administration. Fatah member Salam Fayyad was appointed as prime minister by Abbas.
The Islamic Jihad organization has been launching Qassam rockets into Israel from Gaza almost daily since Hamas took control of the territory. Israel holds Hamas responsible for the attacks for allowing the Islamic Jihad and other groups to act against Israel. In January, Israel completely sealed off its borders with the Gaza Strip and launched military operations in Gaza.
Last month, Israeli and Palestinian delegates began to negotiate a ceasefire in Egypt. On Jun. 17, Egypt announced that a calm agreement had been reached between Israel and Hamas. The deal took effect on Jun. 19.
On Jun. 20, senior Hamas official Ismail Radwan discussed the situation, saying, "We expect that if the enemy adheres to the conditions of the truce it will continue, because it needs the truce just as the Palestinian people do."
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose the calm agreement with Hamas?
|
Support |
40.6% |
|
Oppose |
32.9% |
|
No position |
26.5% |
Do you think that the calm will continue for a short time (days) or a long time (months)?
|
Short |
74.8% |
|
Long |
17.1% |
|
Don’t know |
8.1% |
Source: Shvakim Panorama / Israel Radio
Methodology: Interviews with 497 Israeli adults, conducted on Jun. 18, 2008. No margin of error was provided.