Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Israelis Support Greater Force in Suppressing Arab Uprising

May 2, 1989
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

A recent poll shows that more than half of Israelis support the use of greater military force in the administered territories, and they believe that the 16-monthold Palestinian uprising can be suppressed by force.

This was revealed by a Pori poll conducted last week among 1,200 Jewish men and women over 18. The results were published in Ha’aretz on Friday.

In response to the question, “Are you for or against the use of greater military force to suppress the uprising in the territories,” 54.6 percent replied in the affirmative, 36.6 recent were opposed and 8.8 percent had no opinion.

Asked, “Do you think it possible or impossible to suppress the uprising in the territories by military force,” 53 percent thought it was possible, 38.1 percent said impossible and 8.9 percent had no opinion.

A plurality of Israelis back territorial compromise to resolve the problem of the territories, according to a Dahaf poll reported in Yediot Achronot.

Taken on the eve of Passover among 656 adults, the poll revealed that 33 percent favored territorial compromise, 27 percent favored autonomy and 22 percent opted for annexation.

The status quo was preferred by 9 percent, and 5 percent supported a Palestinian state.

The same poll showed that 17 percent support negotiations now with the Palestine Liberation Organization, 41 percent would support negotiations under certain conditions and 39 percent oppose talks with the PLO under any circumstances.

A Modi’in Ezrachi poll published in Hadashot on Friday contained bad news for the Labor Party.

If elections were held now, Labor would win just 29 Knesset seats, down from the 39 it won in the November 1988 elections, the poll showed.

Likud would hold firm at 40 seats, while the religious parties would do about the same in new elections as they did in the last one.

But parties on the left and right of the political spectrum would enlarge their Knesset representation, with significant gains for the left.

The Citizens Rights Movement would increase from five to nine Knesset seats, Mapam would go from three to five and the Center-Shinui party from two to three seats.

On the right, Moledet and Tsomet would each increase its Knesset delegation from two to three seats, while Tehiya would go from three to four seats.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement