March 01, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The majority of people in Israel would urge the government to engage in direct talks with Hamas in order to reach a ceasefire and request the return of captive soldier Gilad Shalit, according to a poll by Dialog published in Haaretz. 64 per cent of respondents would support a dialogue initiative.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The majority of people in Israel would urge the government to engage in direct talks with Hamas in order to reach a ceasefire and request the return of captive soldier Gilad Shalit, according to a poll by Dialog published in Haaretz. 64 per cent of respondents would support a dialogue initiative.

On Jun. 28, 2006, Israel launched an operation in the Palestinian Territories 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, Shalit, was captured.

Shalit remains captive to this day. For months, Hamas has stated that Shalit will only be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Fatah candidate Mahmoud Abbas won the January 2005 presidential ballot in the Palestinian Territories 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. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh officially took over as prime minister in March. 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 February 2007, Hamas and Fatah leaders reached an accord which set the guidelines for a power-sharing Palestinian administration, headed by Hamas, which would "respect" past peace agreements with Israel. In June, amid a wave of violent clashes between Palestinian supporters of the 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.

On Feb. 28, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert dismissed the idea of holding direct peace talks with Hamas, calling it a "terrorist organization" which is engaging in "terrorist activities" every day, and adding, "(It) denies the value of human dignity which is universally accepted by the international community."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose the Israeli government holding direct talks with the Hamas government in Gaza toward a ceasefire and the release of captive soldier Gilad Shalit?

Support	64%
Oppose	28%
Not sure	8%

Source: Dialog / Haaretz
Methodology: Interviews with 600 Israeli adults, conducted on Feb. 26, 2008. Margin of error is 4 per cent.