This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/poll-plurality-of-israelis-think-settlements-help-security/2016/03/08/2518d46a-e520-11e5-a9ce-681055c7a05f_story.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Poll: Plurality of Israelis think settlements help security Poll: Plurality of Israelis think settlements help security
(about 1 hour later)
TEL AVIV, Israel — A comprehensive survey shows a plurality of Israeli Jews believe the continued building of West Bank settlements helps Israel’s security. TEL AVIV, Israel — A plurality of Israeli Jews believe the continued building of West Bank settlements helps Israel’s security, according to a comprehensive survey that was published Tuesday.
The Pew Research Center found that 42 percent of Israeli Jews said settlements are helpful, while 30 percent found them harmful. Most of the world considers Israeli settlements built on war-won land to be illegal and an obstacle to peace. The Pew Research Center found that 42 percent of Israeli Jews found settlements helpful, while 30 percent found them harmful. Most of the world considers Israeli settlements built of war-won land to be illegal, illegitimate and an obstacle to peace.
Pew surveyed more than 5,600 Israeli adults from October 2014 through May 2015 and published their findings Tuesday. Pew surveyed more than 5,600 Israeli adults face-to-face from October 2014 through May 2015 in what it called a first-of-its-kind survey of Israelis on a wide range of religious, social and political issues.
Results ranged widely based on responders’ political affiliations. Among those on the right, 62 percent said settlements helped security while only 13 percent of those on the left agreed. Similarly, only 29 percent on the right think Israel can live peacefully alongside a Palestinian state compared to 86 percent on the left. Results ranged widely based on responders’ political affiliations. Some 55 percent of Israelis identified themselves in the political center, 37 percent on the right and only eight percent on the left.
Among those on the right, 62 percent said settlements helped security while only 13 percent of those on the left agreed. Similarly, only 29 percent on the right thought Israel could live peacefully alongside a future Palestinian state compared to 86 percent on the left.
The survey comes at a time of stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians and with Israel under increased international pressure to scale back is settlement enterprise. It also faces the potential risk of boycott.
The poll revealed deep divisions in Israel between Arabs and Jews and among Jews themselves.
Among Israel’s 20-percent Arab minority, half said an independent Palestinian state could coexist peacefully with Israel — a steep drop from previous surveys.
Israeli Arabs were also highly skeptical about the sincerity of the Israeli government’s seeking a peace agreement, while Israeli Jews were equally skeptical about the sincerity of Palestinian leaders. However, 40 percent of Israeli Jews also say their own government was not making a genuine effort toward peace, with an equal share of Israeli Arabs saying the same about Palestinian leaders.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.