Poll finds general distrust among Israelis in US-mediated peace talks

64% of Israelis do not trust Kerry to take Israel's security needs into account, while 60% think the US secretary of state is motivated by personal reasons.

Ynetnews

Published: 03.11.14


There is a general distrust among Israelis in the American-mediated peace talks with the Palestinians, according to a joint poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) and Tel Aviv University, and published Tuesday.

Some two-thirds of Israelis (64 percent) said they do not trust US Secretary of State John Kerry to take Israel's security needs into account as a crucial factor in his proposed framework agreement. Among those were 66% of Israeli Jews and 53% of Arab Israelis.

This is a significant change to an IDI poll from December, that found that 64% of Israeli Jews and 78% of Arabs Israelis believe the US, and particularly Kerry, are committed to ensuring Israel's security in negotiations.

The change can be attributed to the fast-approaching American-set due date for the peace talks, April 29, and to American admission it is unlikely a final accord will be signed by that date, despite initial optimism at the talks' start. The proposed framework agreement is meant to lay out the guidelines for an additional round of talks.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4497725,00.html