BareNakedIslam
Why is it that everyone on the Left, including the media, and many on the Right are convinced that the majority Palestinian Arabs want a two-state solution?
Elder of Ziyon Hussein Ibish writes in Open Zion: Support for a two state solution also represents, according to almost every existing poll, the Palestinian majority position, as well as that of the Palestine Liberation Organization (universally recognized as “the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people”.)
He’s technically right, and he is very, very wrong. When polls ask Palestinian Arabs is they support a two-state solution, indeed most answer yes. However, when one pollster last year went a bit further and asked another question, it showed that the real answer is not “yes” but “as a means to destroy Israel.”
The Israel Project commissioned a poll in the territories conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion and asked which of these two statements more closely matched the opinions of those being polled:
| The best goal is for a two-state solution that keeps two states living side by side. | The real goal should be to start with two states but then move to it all being one Palestinian state | |
|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 12% | 22% |
| Somewhat agree | 13% | 30% |
| Total | 25% | 52% |
| Total for those who responded | 32% | 68% |
In case you think that this question was too vague or unclear, here’s one that leave little doubt of what Palestinian Arab intentions are:
Israel has a permanent right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people. | Over time Palestinians must work to get back all the land for a Palestinian state | |
Strongly agree | 4% | 27% |
Somewhat agree | 4% | 57% |
Total | 8% | 84% |
Total for those who responded | 9% | 91% |
