Stealing from Harry’s Place we find these fairly encouraging results:
Here’s the results of last November’s polling amongst Palestinians:
Support or opposition to a peace settlement with Israel
Support 72%
Oppose 25.5%
Support or opposition to the Palestinian participation in the peace conference that will be held at the end of the month.
Support 71%
Oppose 26.5%
Should Hamas maintain its position on the elimination of the state of Israel?
Hamas should maintain its position on Israel 31%
Hamas should change its position regarding Israel 69%
Other interesting results here.
Main issue that makes you feel concerned
The economic hardship 31%
The absence of security 25%
The internal power struggle 29%
The Israeli occupation in general 6%
Family problems 3%
The security situation in the Gaza Strip now is better than before Hamas took over, worse, or it did not change?
Better 14%
Worse 79%
The Same 6%
Trust in Abu Mazen versus trust in Ismael Hanieh
Abu Mazen 78%
Ismael Hanieh 22%
Factional trust
Fatah 46%
Hamas 13%
Others 9%
None 32%
(Hamas trust was 41% in January 2006. Fatah v Hamas trust is 46% v 16% in the Gaza strip)
Support or opposition to early PLC elections
Support: 77%
Oppose: 23%
Voting preference if early PLC elections are held next week
Fateh 69%
Hamas 15%
Others 16%
Attitude about the nature of the state, refugees, and Jerusalem
Two states for two people 53%
A one bi-national state in historic Palestine 15%
A Palestinian state on all historic Palestine 32%
Return to their original place of residence 61%
Return back to the new Palestinian state 24%
Compensation 15%
Jerusalem as an international capital 19%
East Jerusalem for Palestine and West for Israel 29%
A unified capital for both states 14%
A capital only for Palestine 38%
Note, the Israeli occupation in general is the primary concern of only 6% of respondents. Western policy continues to tilt toward assuaging the priorities of the few, and the violent, and the irreconcilable. No wonder our efforts continue to founder.
About Lance
I want to thank everybody who has encouraged me over the past few years to do this. I doubt it will hold but a few people's interest, but that is okay with me. Special thanks go to Peter over at http://www.liberalcapitalist.com.
I value my privacy a great deal, so I will guess you will have to get to know me over time to find out much. I am in the financial services, wealth management, investing or whatever you want to call it business. I have children, my oldest is entering college.
I have no great or imposing academic background, my grades varied from high enough to get invited to an honors program at my university to frustrating enough to cause my father great grief. My major was history, with a minor in ethics. My main interest towards the end was in the history of economic ideas before life took a turn and I ended up never going on to graduate school. However, I have a fair knowledge of history, economics, investing and would probably be considered well read. My tastes are eclectic and I pretty much find the entire world interesting.
I have an enduring interest in how people learn about and analyze the world; my posts here will examine this topic in detail over time. I make no claims to be above the very biases and errors I see in others, in fact it is my belief that we are incapable of escaping them, only moderating their control over us.
I am a member of no political party, but I would broadly consider myself a man of the right. I am inclined to free market economics, limited government and a fairly narrow view of the role of the state. A small L libertarian if you will. However, if you are looking for broad based "the left believes..." or "wingers are so...." types of attacks on liberals, conservatives, neo-cons or whatever enemy you want to slam, look elsewhere.
Lance
