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Have Palestinians Given Up on Resistance?
(Al-Monitor) Adnan Abu Amer - A poll by the Jerusalem Media and Communication Center (JMCC) published Oct. 16 showed that 47% of Palestinians now believe peace negotiations are the best solution to establish a Palestinian state. In January, 25% believed this. The poll, conducted on Sept. 19-24 in the West Bank and Gaza, showed that supporters of armed resistance declined to 25% - from 30% in February 2017 and 33% in March 2015. Support for peaceful mass resistance dropped to 20%, compared to 25% in February 2017 and 27% in March 2015. 31% of Palestinians said that rockets fired from Gaza toward Israeli targets benefit the national interest, while 62% had believed that in October 2014 and 74% in December 2012. Amin Maqboul, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, told Al-Monitor, "These results reflect the decline in Arab and international attention to the Palestinian cause. Palestinians are leaning toward negotiations rather than the armed struggle since no countries support the latter. Palestinians have become frustrated with the future of the resistance." The writer heads the political science and media department of Umma University Open Education in Gaza.