Thursday, March 10, 2011

Poll:Only 5% of Likud members in favor of Palestinian state in temporary borders

(Jpost).Prime Minister Netanyahu may have a harder time advancing a new diplomatic initiative than he had previously thought, after an automated poll conducted by a body called the Likud National Task Force found that 83 percent of Likud members opposed making any concessions to the Palestinians.

The automated polling system, which settler leaders admit was unscientific, called 113,643 Likud Party members. Nearly 72,000 picked up the phone, of whom 26,959 participated and agreed to answer one question.

Participants were given three choices: The creation of a Palestinian state in temporary borders, an interim agreement with transferring some territory, or no concessions at all.

Only 5% were in favor of creating a Palestinian state in temporary borders, even though it could soon become Netanyahu’s diplomatic plan, 12% said they backed an interim agreement, and 83% opposed any concessions and the creation of a Palestinian state.

Officials in the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria called the poll a “slap in the face” to Netanyahu. They intend to intensify efforts to prevent him from advancing a diplomatic initiative next week.