The Israeli public is increasingly disillusioned with the war in Lebanon and the government’s handling of developments since then, according to a comparison of opinion polls taken by the Dahaf organization from July, 1982 through November, 1983.
The analysis, by the weekly newspaper Koteret Rashit, noted that 51 percent of the respondents in the latest poll, last month, thought the government was wrong to invade Lebanon in the first place in light of subsequent events and Israeli casualties.
Support for the war has declined precipitously since July, 1982 when 84 percent of the public believed the invasion of Lebanon was the “right decision.” In December, 1982, support was down to 64 percent and in May, 1983, a bare 51 percent majority supported the decision. Last month it was down to 43 percent.
Opposition to the war rose from 13 percent in July, 1982 to 32 percent in December, 44 percent in May, 1983 and 51 percent now.
Last month’s poll found that 44 percent of the public thought Israel should make whatever security arrangements are necessary and pull out of Lebanon within the next few weeks. A longer stay for better security arrangements was supported by 25 percent and another 25 percent thought Israel should remain in Lebanon until the Syrians pull out. Only two percent of the respondents believe Israel should stay in south Lebanon indefinitely.
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