Daily Research News Online no. 1767 - Strong Support for Peace Process in Israel

Strong Support for Peace Process in Israel

July 25 2002

Almost eight out of ten people (78 per cent) in Israel 'support' or 'strongly support' the peace process between Israel and the Arab world, according to a recent survey by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Teleseker, the Israeli arm of marketing information group Taylor Nelson Sofres.

Despite this significant majority, just four out of ten people (40 per cent) in Israel believe that the peace process will lead to a 'true and comprehensive peace' between Israel and the Arab world. This compares to more than half of people (52 per cent) in Israel interviewed two years ago (July 2000) who believed peace would be achieved, representing a significant shift in opinion.

In addition, almost seven out of ten people (68 per cent) in Israel said that they believed the major cause for the conflict was due to 'the unwillingness of the Palestinians to accept the existence of the state of Israel.' At the same time, two-thirds of people (66 per cent) in Israel said that they would accept an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, suggesting that a compromise could be reached if effective peace negotiations take place. Interestingly, the acceptance of an independent Palestinian state has increased significantly, from half of the Israeli population (51 per cent) in 1998 to two-thirds (66 per cent) today.

Perhaps even more surprising is the fact that more than a third of people (36 per cent) in Israel said that they would agree to an evacuation of all or most of the Jewish settlements in order to achieve 'a true and comprehensive peace.' An additional four out of ten people (39 per cent) in Israel agreed to an evacuation of 'some or a small number of settlements'.

Additional findings showed that:

Almost nine out of ten people (88 per cent) in Israel supported the current military operations ('Operation Defense Shield') in Palestinian territories
Just over four out of ten people (42 per cent) believed that terrorist attacks against Israel would decrease as a result of the current military action
One in five people (19 per cent) believed that terrorist attacks against Israel would increase as a result of the current military action
Israel's satisfaction with Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, increased from a low of 32 per cent in March 2002 during the peak of the terrorist attacks, to a high of 67 per cent in April 2002.

Dori Shadmon, Managing Director, TNS/Teleseker Israel commented 'The research findings highlight the major dilemma of public opinion in Israel today. On the one hand there has been a shift to the right on political and security issues, expressed through wide spread support for Ariel Sharon's National Unity Government and military response to terrorist acts. On the other hand, the research shows an increasing readiness to compromise with the Palestinians on the fundamental issues - evacuation of Jewish settlements and the acknowledgement of a Palestinian statehood, in return for a true peace accord.'

Research was undertaken by Taylor Nelson Sofres Teleseker using telephone polls with 500 adults in Israel, during April 2002. Teleseker is the Israeli arm of the Taylor Nelson Sofres marketing information group.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.