Poll: 32.5% Support "Geneva Agreement", 66.7% Agreement Should Not Be
Developed Outside Government

Aaron Lerner Date: 16 October 2003

The following is IMRA's translation of results of a telephone poll of a
representative national sample of 502 adult Israelis (including Israeli
Arabs) carried out by Shvakim Panorama for Israel Radio's "Another Matter"
program on 15 October 2003 as presented on the website of the radio station
(http://bet.iba.org.il )

[IMRA: It should be noted that the actual text of the "Geneva Agreement" has
not been released to the press and instead there have only been summaries
provided by Israelis involved in the project that do not necessarily
accurately reflect the text. In addition it should be noted that plans to
sign the agreement last week in Jordan fell apart when disputes arose over
the meaning of the 50 page text. Four appendices are now going to be
prepared to resolve differences in the interpretation of the 50 pages. Thus,
when pollsters ask people if they support the "agreement" it is far from
clear if the 32.5% who said "yes" would also support the agreement if the
details were revealed. One example: While Israel withdraws from the Jordan
Valley, there appears to be a provision for an Israeli security presence
there. Previous schemes had this presence for a limited period with access
to the security presence relying on the good will of the Palestinian state.
In fact, in the last scheme Beilin worked on, the assumption was that in the
case of war that the Palestinians would graciously stand aside as Israeli
forces crossed the sovereign Palestinian state on their way to the Jordan
Valley.]

If the agreement that was reached in Geneva between Israelis and
Palestinians personalities was brought to a national referendum in Israel
would you personally support or oppose the "Geneva Agreement"?
Support 32.5% Oppose 50.1% Don't have a clear opinion 17.4%

Does the "Geneva Agreement" hurt or advance the negotiations that the
government is carying on with the Palestinians?
Hurts 49.6% Advances 28.2% Neither 11.6% Don't know 10.6%

Is it permissible or not for Israeli individuals, who were not appointed by
the government, to develop an agreement such as the "Geneva Agreement"?
Permissible 25.5% Not 66.7% No clear opinion 7.8%

Should the court permit publication of details concerning the kidnapping of
Elchanan Tannenbaum by Hizbullah [IMRA: According to President Katzav,
Tannenbaum may be tried in Israel for crimes after he is released].
Yes 41.4% No 44.2% No opinion 14.4%

In view of rumors regarding his kidnapping, what position do you take?
73.5% Act for his release regardless
19.6% Circumstances of kidnapping should affect decision
6.9% Don't know

From what you know about the deal developing between Israel and
Hizbullah,should the deal be conditioned on getting either information about
or the release of Ron Arad?
Yes 72.5% No 19.9% No position 7.6%

Was the focus of the media in the past month on the Yom Kippur War:
Excessive 27.2% Right amount 50.8% Not enough 4.0%
Unnecessary 12.6% Don't know 5.4%

Did the focus of the media in the past month on the Yom Kippur War:
Hurt national moral 36.2% Strengthen national will 42.0% Don't know 21.8%

Is the decision to transfer responsibility for the rabbinical courts from
the Ministry of Religion to the Ministry of Justice:
Correct 49.9% Mistake 40.2% Don't know 9.9%

How would you rate the government's handling of air pollution?
Very good 1.2% Good 6.9% Reasonable 23.2%
Lousy 65.4% Don't know 3.4%

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
pager 03-6106666 subscriber 4811
Website: http://www.imra.org.il