The latest poll by the Modi’in Ezrachi Institute showed that 52 percent of the Israeli population is prepared to make territorial concessions on the West Bank in return for peace with Jordan. The poll, conducted for the newspaper Maariv, was published today.
According to the poll, 42.8 percent of the populace opposed any concessions. Among those willing to trade territory for peace, 37.4 percent would give up “certain parts” of the West Bank; 11.6 percent would give up all of the territory, except East Jerusalem and 3.5 percent would relinquish the entire West Bank including East Jerusalem and the Old City. Of those polled, 4.3 percent gave no opinion.
The government meanwhile announced a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate Arab refugee camps in the territories. The recommendations, drafted by a ministerial committee headed by Minister-Without-Portfolio Mordechai Ben Porat, were submitted to the Cabinet for a final decision. The plan calls for rebuilding some refugee camps on their present sites, relocating others and closing down some whose residents would be settled in nearby towns.
There were no estimates of what this project would cost. Government sources said it would be financed by foreign aid, mainly from the U.S. and the World Bank.
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