A sobering new survey conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research with the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion on behalf of The Israel Project, sheds new light on Palestinian society. The poll, carried out between June 20 and July 8, shows the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state to be last on the minds of Palestinians: respondents were asked to name the top two priorities for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. More than 80 percent cited creating new jobs, while only 4 percent identified current Palestinian efforts to declare Palestinian statehood via the United Nations.
Respondents were asked about US President Barack Obama’s statement that “there should be two states: Palestine as the homeland for the Palestinian people and Israel as the homeland for the Jewish people.” Sixty one percent rejected this statement. Sixty-six percent said the Palestinians’ real goal should be to start with a two-state solution as a means to obtaining a one state solution.
Seventy-two percent backed denying the thousands of years of Jewish history in Jerusalem, 62% supported kidnapping IDF soldiers and holding them hostage, and 53% were in favor or teaching songs about hating Jews in Palestinian schools.
When given a quote from the Hamas Charter about the need for battalions from the Arab and Islamic world to defeat the Jews, 80% agreed. Seventy-three percent agreed with a quote from the charter (and a hadith, or tradition ascribed to the prophet Muhammad) about the need to kill Jews hiding behind stones and trees.
But only 45% said they believed in the charter’s statement that the only solution to the Palestinian problem was jihad.
The survey’s more positive findings included that only 22% supported firing rockets at Israeli cities and citizens and that two-thirds preferred diplomatic engagement over violent “resistance.”
Those who support violence are more likely to watch Al Jazeera and Al Manar TV networks than those who prefer diplomatic engagement, suggesting Palestinian media incitement.
