(CAMERA) Gilead Ini - A recent poll of Palestinians was described as showing overwhelming Palestinian support for a two-state solution, but a closer look at the question reveals otherwise. The actual question posed to Palestinians was this: "Do you support a change in Palestinian policy, from demanding an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, to demanding equal rights for Arabs and Jews in one state in historical Palestine, from the river to the sea?" The question does not explicitly refer to a two-state solution. An expressed willingness to accept or demand a smaller Palestinian state does not necessarily indicate support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. A JMCC poll of Palestinians conducted in Sept. 2015 spoke more explicitly about a two-state formula as one of a number of solutions to the Arab-Israeli conflict. It was supported by 44%. Unless a poll question explicitly asks about support for two states, or better yet, two states for two peoples, we should be extremely hesitant to assume it sheds light on that subject.
2016-03-18 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive