Posted on 04/09/2002 11:49:58 AM PDT by finnman69
Region's rivals get solid support
Tue Apr 9, 8:32 AM ET
Matthew Kalman USA TODAY
JERUSALEM -- Israelis overwhelmingly support Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites)'s continuing military operations against Palestinian terrorists, but they could reject his leadership if there is a real chance for peace, a new poll shows.
A nationwide opinion poll published Friday by Yedioth Aharonot, Israel's Hebrew daily found Sharon's job-approval rating leaped from a low of 45% in March to 62% after he launched Operation Protective Shield 12 days ago. The military campaign in the West Bank, initiated after a series of suicide bombings inside Israel early this month, is aimed at arresting -- or killing -- suspected terrorists.
Sharon has been urged by the international community to withdraw his forces. Monday, after a meeting with U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni and a new demand from President Bush (news - web sites) to withdraw, Israel said it would pull troops out of two towns.
''Sharon now enjoys broad support, a natural result of the big wave of terror attacks and of the broad activity of the Israeli army,'' says political analyst Nahum Barnea. ''But in the end, his voters will be demanding results,'' Barnea adds, referring to a political plan to ensure security after the military operation ends.
Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) also has strong support from Palestinians, according to a poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion. More than 81% of 720 Palestinian adults surveyed in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, said they backed the Palestinian leader.
But the poll, taken March 27-30 -- before Israeli forces moved into several West Bank towns -- showed 48% backed the right of both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.
The poll of Israelis also shows support for a peace plan that would establish an independent Palestinian state. Although Sharon has accepted the inevitability of such a state emerging, he recently said it would happen only after a ''long period'' of calm. The poll suggested that most Israelis would rather not wait that long.
A large majority -- 73% -- of the 504 adult Israelis surveyed say Israel should enter into talks to establish a Palestinian state once the terrorism stops.
''There is no doubt that the terror is the only issue hardening the attitude of the Jewish public towards the Palestinians,'' says political analyst Sever Plotzker.
Even more striking: 55% of Israelis say Sharon should declare now that if the terrorism stops, Israel will agree to peace talks to establish a Palestinian state.
Such a declaration at this stage would contradict Sharon's adamant refusal to consider any diplomatic moves or even discussions before Palestinian terror is wiped out.
Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, a former Israeli army chief of staff turned peace negotiator, says the success of the current military campaign depends on a diplomatic vision beyond the incursion into the Palestinian territories. ''This is an operation that is sensible, effective and cautious, the correct operation by the Israeli army under the most extreme danger and difficult fighting conditions,'' he says, adding, ''I hope the victory will be that we have reached an agreement, and that the agreement will be the victory.''
Such a declaration at this stage would contradict Sharon's adamant refusal to consider any diplomatic moves or even discussions before Palestinian terror is wiped out.
The writer seems to think that these are in opposition.
“Why don’t we admit that he can neither lead, nor plan, nor take a single step that makes any difference except to him and his Oslo cronies who have benefitted materially from their people’s misery”
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