THE TW0-STATE SOLUTION IS A FIGMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S IMAGINATION

Palestinians Oppose Two-State Solution, Want More Anti-Israel Terrorism

New survey confirms what many in Israel have been saying all along – there is no Palestinian peace partner.

 

By Baruch Yadid 

 

TPS

December 15, 2022

They want it all. The international community says the two-state solution is the only path to peace. The Palestinians say they won't stop there.

 

Highlights of a new survey of Palestinian public opinion reveals growing support for terror groups, as trust in the Palestinian Authority continues to weaken.

The survey, released on Tuesday by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, showed a decline in all indications of support for PA institutions, PA President Mahmoud Abbas and the ruling Fatah party.

The Ramallah-based PCPSR polled 1,200 Palestinians against the background of Israel transitioning to a right-wing government, the spread of armed Palestinian groups in Judea and Samaria, and Palestinian initiatives at the United Nations and International Court of Justice. The margin of error is three percent.

Regarding armed Palestinian groups in Judea and Samaria that are not subject to the PA, 72% of the respondents said they support these groups while 22% opposed them. Moreover, 55% of the Palestinians surveyed said they support armed struggle (read: terrorist violence against Israeli Jews).

 

The Lions' Den armed group in the old city of Nablus.  

 

While 59% of the respondents said they fear these armed groups will come into direct conflict with the PA security forces, 87% said the PA has no right to arrest armed Palestinians, and 79% said they oppose handing these groups over to the PA.

Asked about the new Israeli government to be led by Benjamin Netanyahu, 61% of respondents expressed fear of an aggressive Israeli policy, while 30% hope it will remain unchanged.

Additionally, 58% believe Israel will change the status quo on the Temple Mount, while 69% said they believe Israel will annex settlements and the Jordan Valley.

Two-thirds said they oppose the two-state solution and 69% said settlements make a two-state solution no longer practical.

Palestinian elections

Palestinians have not held national elections since 2005, and Abbas is now in the 17th year of what was supposed to be a four-year term. Since then, Abbas has cancelled several attempted elections amid disagreements between Fatah and Hamas.

Asked about new elections for a Palestinian president and legislature, 69% of respondents demanded elections immediately.

In a presidential race between Abbas and Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, 54% said they would support Haniyeh, while 36% said they would support Abbas. However, if Marwan Barghouti –a Fatah figure serving a life sentence in Israel for terrorism — were a contender, 61% said they would support Barghouti, while 34% supported Haniyeh.

But the public was more split on Hamas vs. Fatah in a parliamentary vote. The survey found 34% would vote for Fatah, 34% would vote for Hamas, 10% would vote for other parties, and the rest were undecided.

As in previous polls, a very high number of Palestinians (81%) believe that the PA is corrupt, while 75% said Abbas should resign.

TPS EDITOR’S NOTE: This kind of story requires one to read between the lines a bit to fully understand what is happening among the Palestinians.

If they reject, or no longer see as viable a two-state solution, yet are pressing for an escalation of armed conflict, for what exactly are they struggling? What’s the end goal? Where they intend to vote, if ever another Palestinian election is held, provides the answer.

That a majority of Palestinians prefer either Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh or blood-soaked terror chief Marwan Barghouti as their president (not to mention Hamas control of parliament) clearly indicates that they remain dedicated to Yasser Arafat’s original vision – the complete eradication of Israel.

Barghouti is popular for one reason, and one reason alone – killing lots of Jews. Hamas, as we all know, exists for the sole purpose of destroying the Jewish state and replacing it with an Islamist one.

That most Palestinians intend to vote for such people should tell you everything.