Photo Credit: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Touring Judea and Samaria with an IDF officer.

A poll conducted by leading Israeli pollster Mina Tzemach for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs on March 20-21, 2017, found a decrease in support for a withdrawal from Judea and Samaria and the establishment of a Palestinian state.

There has been a gradual decrease of (Jewish) Israelis’ willingness to agree to a withdrawal from Judea and Samaria as part of a peace agreement – from 60% in 2005 to 36% in 2017. There has also been a decline in support for the Clinton Parameters (a demilitarized Palestinian state without settlement blocs, full Palestinian security control of Judea and Samaria, Jerusalem divided and the capital of both states, the Temple Mount in the hands of the Arabs, while Israel receives the Western Wall) – from 55% in 2005 to 29% in 2017.

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The survey was based on a representative sample of 521 people from an Internet panel of the iPanel company, and the interviews were conducted via the Internet on March 20-21, 2017. The maximum sampling error was 4.4%.

Regarding Jerusalem:

79% say it is important to retain a unified Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, while 15% say it is not important.

41% agree and 52% oppose the division of Jerusalem into Jewish and Arab sectors (with no mention that the capital of the Palestinian state will be in east Jerusalem).

If Jerusalem is to become the Palestinian capital, agreement decreases to 33% and opposition increases to 59%.

Transferring the Temple Mount to the Arabs: 10% agree and 83% oppose.
Regarding withdrawal from Judea and Samaria as part of a peace agreement and the establishment of a Palestinian state:

Withdrawal from all the territories – 15% agree, while 77% oppose.

Withdrawal except for the large settlement blocs – 37% agree, while 57% oppose.

When the possibility is presented of territorial swaps in return for annexation – 29% agree, while 64% oppose.

When annexation of the settlement blocs to Israel is included and it is stated that the Palestinian state will be demilitarized, agreement increases to 48% and opposition decreases to 44%. This shows that the main issue of concern is security.

One of the reasons for the opposition to an Israeli withdrawal involves control of strategic points: 88% say that Israel cannot withdraw from territories that border on Ben-Gurion Airport. 81% say that Israel cannot withdraw from territories bordering the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Highway (Route 443).

Regarding American involvement:

Agreement with the Clinton Parameters increases to 51% if Israel is also given security guarantees including a defense pact with the US.

74% say it is important that the U.S. be involved in any agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Regarding unilateral withdrawal (without an agreement):

26% agree and 61% oppose.
Regarding recognition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people:

71% say an agreement should be conditioned on Palestinian recognition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, while 20% disagree.
Regarding regional instability:

Given the current instability in the Middle East, is it possible to make extensive concessions, or must Israel exercise great caution regarding territorial concessions? 14% say Israel can make concessions, while 80% say Israel cannot make concessions.
Regarding the Golan Heights:

58% say Israel should condition a settlement with the Palestinians on U.S. recognition of the application of Israeli law on the Golan Heights, while 25% disagree.

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David writes news at JewishPress.com.