Weekly Commentary: Walking through the Peace Index Poll

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 16 May 2013

The Peace Index is a project of the Evens Program for Mediation and Conflict
Resolution at Tel Aviv University and the Israel Democracy Institute. This
month's survey was conducted by telephone on April 28–30, 2013, by the
Midgam Research Institute.

Let’s take a moment and walk through some of the findings among adult
Israeli Jews:

What is your position on holding peace negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinian Authority?
1. Strongly in favor 31.2
2. Somewhat in favor 32.9
3. Somewhat opposed 12.8
4. Strongly opposed 16.7
5. Don’t know / Refuse to answer 31.2

So Israelis want to talk.

But wait a moment.

Do you believe or not believe that negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinian Authority will lead to peace between Israel and the Palestinians
in the coming years?
1. Strongly believe 6.8
2. Somewhat believe 24.0
3. Somewhat don’t believe 22.6
4. Don’t believe at all 44.2
5. Don’t know / Refuse to answer 2.4

That’s right. Israelis want to talk, but they don’t think it will lead to
peace.

What in your opinion are the chances of renewing the peace negotiations with
the Palestinian Authority in the coming year?
1. Very high 2.6
2. Moderately high 20.5
3. Moderately low 40.7
4. Very low 29.7
5. Don’t know / Refuse to answer 6.5

So Israelis would like talks, don’t think they will bring peace and don’t
expect them to take place.

A government cannot devote the same amount of attention to all issues.

Among the following issues, which in your opinion is the most important
issue for the new Israeli government to address?
1. Reducing the large deficit in the state budget 12.3
2. Closing socioeconomic gaps 38.6
3. Negotiations with the Palestinians 9.8
4. Public order and violence 14.5
5. Protecting the environment 1.7
6. The Iranian threat 15.6
7. Haredi integration 7.3

Which issue do you consider to be second in importance?
1. Reducing the large deficit in the state budget 17.7
2. Closing socioeconomic gaps 24.2
3. Negotiations with the Palestinians 10.8
4. Public order and violence 15.2
5. Protecting the environment 3.1
6. The Iranian threat 18.3
7. Haredi integration 9.9
8. Don’t know / Refuse to answer 0.8

So Israelis would like talks, don’t think they will bring peace and don’t
expect them to take place and don’t think that talking with the Palestinians
should be a priority for the government..

And finally:

To what extent do you feel secure in the military-security sphere?
1. I do not feel secure at all 4.8
2. I do not feel so secure 11.4
3. In between 18.8
4. I feel fairly secure 46.2
5. I feel very secure 16.8
6. Don’t know / Refuse to answer 2.1

So Israelis would like talks, don’t think they will bring peace and don’t
expect them to take place and don’t think that talking with the Palestinians
should be a priority for the government and for the most part aren’t
particularly concerned about the security situation despite the expect
continued absence of either negotiations or of a deal with the Palestinians.

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
Website: http://www.imra.org.il