49% of Israelis back Jerusalem division

Surprising results: Yedioth Ahronoth poll shows half of Israeli public willing to cede parts of Jerusalem in the framework of peace deal with Palestinians; meanwhile, Kadima drops to 38 seats in survey, Labor up to 23, Likud still at 11

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"A surprising survey published by Israel’s leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth shows almost half of the Israeli public supports a compromise on Jerusalem in the framework of a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

According to the Yedioth Ahronoth and Mina Tzemach poll, released Friday, 49 percent of Israelis back a compromise that would see Jerusalem’s Arab neighborhoods and Arab areas adjacent to the capital handed over to the Palestinians, with Jewish neighborhoods and the Western Wall remaining in Israeli hands.

The same figure, 49 percent, said they would object to such an arrangement. The implication of the results is that even before talks on Jerusalem’s status have been launched, half of the Israeli public is already willing to accept a compromise in exchange for a peace deal.


The survey was undertaken following remarks by an advisor to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who was quoted by Newsweek magazine as saying the PM is ready to cede parts of Jerusalem. The poll aimed to check whether the threat that “Sharon would divide Jerusalem” has the same effect on Israelis as similar threats had several years ago."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3185313,00.html

I would love to see it as the home to a NEW United Nations!

and those regarding the cession of Jerusalem.

Kadima 38/Labor 23 means a Kadima/Labor coalition is almost inevitable, with a great deal of Labor influence over policy.

Over here, one famous pollster is notorious for always predicting the wrong outcome of federal elections, so as soon as they predicted a Labor win last time, I started stocking up on commisseration drinks and nibblys for the post-mortem...

How do you think Labor will influence the policy of a Kadima/Labor coalition? Is there a lot of difference in their stances on the Palestinians?

Violet...

They will be pushing for more "disengagement," rather than using disengagement as a chance to seize more of the West Bank. With Kadima's usurpation of some of the precepts of their older platforms it seems clear that they will be somewhat to the left of earlier positions, in accordance with the shift in the political spectrum.

Peretz is not as establishment as Peres, and seems to have come from the left-wing branch of the party, definitely an improvement. He headed the national trade union and is not supportive of the current failed economic model and the neoliberal policies pursued by the current government. It is on economic matters where I have the most hope, that some of the rollback in government actually caring about the poor may cease.

A candidate like him being able to secure twenty-three seats in the Knesset cannot be anything but a good thing.

issues to reduce Peretz' chances as the election draws near? That, I suppose, is the crucial question.