More than half back two-state Israel plan
The Independent, Ma'ariv, 23/34 November 2003Support is growing among Israelis and Palestinians for a two-state solution based on mutual recognition, an almost total Israeli withdrawal from territory captured in the 1967 war, division of Jerusalem and an end to the conflict.
A poll published yesterday revealed that 55.6 per cent of Palestinians and 53 per cent of Israelis backed the principles of the Geneva Accords, an unofficial peace plan drafted by the ex-Israeli minister Yossi Beilin and Yasser Abed Rabbo, formerly a senior figure in the Palestinian Authority.
A Washington think-tank, the Baker Institute, commissioned the survey, which asked 1,241 Israelis and Palestinians for their views on the peace plan's terms without mentioning it by name. More than half of them approved.
...
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=466568http://images.maariv.co.il/cache/ART592506.html (hebrew)
...
Comment: Ma'ariv mentions that the interviews were done face-to-face, rather than over the phone. This is considered "more reliable". It also outlines what principles were read to the respondents (not mentioned in The Independent):
* two independent states, Israel and Palestine
* limited right of return (other countries)
* border will be 1967 borders, with minor modifications
* division of Jerusalem, along Arab and Jewish lines
* international involvement in settling of disputes/implementation.
Israelis: 53%
Palestinians: 55.6%
1,241 respondents
(incidentially, Geneva is being sold to Israelis on
better terms than this: in ads, the covering letter to Israelis, the official website etc. Can provide more details on that if anyone requires it)