Poll: 91% against Obama imposing deal
By GIL HOFFMAN The Jerusalem Post 14/04/2010 07:45
www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=173093

Huge majority against forced plan to divide J'lem, cede Jordan Valley.

A huge majority of Israelis would oppose an attempt by US President Barack
Obama to impose a final-status agreement with the Palestinians, a poll
sponsored by the Independent Media Review and Analysis (IMRA) organization
found this week.

Leading American newspapers reported last week that Obama was considering
trying to impose a settlement if efforts to begin indirect proximity talks
between Israel and the Palestinians proved unsuccessful. The option was
discussed in a meeting with current and former advisers to the White House.

Asked whether they would support Obama imposing a plan dividing Jerusalem
and removing the Jordan Valley from Israeli control, 91 percent of Israelis
who expressed an opinion said no and 9% said yes, according to the poll of
503 Israelis, which was taken by Ma’agar Mohot on Sunday and Monday and had
a 4.5% margin of error.

Eighty-one percent said it was improper for Obama to try to force such a
plan on the two sides, while 19% of those who expressed an opinion said it
was proper.

The poll asked whether it would create enduring peace or enduring conflict
should Jerusalem be divided, with Jewish neighborhoods remaining part of
Israel and Arab neighborhoods becoming part of a Palestinian state.
Eighty-four percent said conflict and 16% said peace.

The numbers were similar for the Jordan Valley, where 90% opposed
relinquishing Israeli control and 10% were in favor.

Meanwhile, a poll of Palestinians conducted on April 8-10 by the Center of
Opinion Polls and Survey Studies at An-Najah University in Nablus asked
Palestinians whether they would accept the creation of a Palestinian state
within the pre-1967 borders with a land exchange as a final solution for the
Palestinian problem, and whether they would support or reject making
Jerusalem a capital for two states.

The numbers on the two-state solution were 66.7% against, 28.3% in favor,
and 5% who did not know or did not express an opinion. On the Jerusalem
issue, 77.4 said they opposed such a plan, 20.8% were in favor, and 1.8% had
no opinion or chose not to express it.