Israelis Support Large Slaughter in Gaza Strip

Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Israelis Support Large Scale War in Gaza Strip

November 20, 2006


- Many adults in Israel believe their country should increase its military operations in the Palestinian territories, according to a poll by Maagar Mochot released by Israel Radio. 51 per cent of respondents support a large scale military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Fatah faction, won the January 2005 presidential ballot with 62.32 per cent of all cast ballots. In January 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian Legislative Council election, securing 74 of the 112 seats at stake. Ismail Haniyeh officially took over as prime minister on Mar. 28. The Israeli government believes Hamas is directly responsible for the deaths of 377 citizens in a variety of attacks, which include dozens of suicide bombings.

On Jun. 28, Israel launched a military operation in response to a joint raid carried out by Palestinian militants on a military post outside of the Gaza Strip, in which two Israeli soldiers were killed, and one more, Gilad Shalit, was captured.

In March, Israeli voters renewed the Knesset. Kadima, founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon and led by Ehud Olmert, secured 29 seats. Labour, the Retired People’s Party (Gil) and the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) joined Kadima in a coalition. Last month, the Israeli cabinet approved the addition of Israel Our Home to the government. Olmert’s coalition now has the support of 78 of the Knesset’s 120 members.

In December 2005, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suggested that Israel be removed from the Middle East and questioned the Holocaust, saying, "They have fabricated a legend under the name ‘Massacre of the Jews’ and they hold it higher than God himself, religion itself and the prophets themselves."

After being branded as part of an "axis of evil" by United States president George W. Bush in January 2002, Iran has contended that its nuclear program aims to produce energy, not weapons. Only 20 per cent of respondents express confidence in Olmert’s handling of the nuclear threat and the conflict with Iran.

Israel Our Home leader Avigdor Lieberman has been named minister for strategic affairs. On Nov. 19, Lieberman called for the leadership of Hamas to be "cleared out, sent to heaven."

Polling Data

Do you support a large scale military campaign in the Gaza Strip?

Support
51%

Oppose
22%

Other
27%



Do you have confidence on prime minister Ehud Olmert’s handling of the nuclear threat and the conflict with Iran?

Yes
20%

No
55%

Other
25%



Source: Maagar Mochot / Israel Radio
Methodology: Interviews with 671 Israeli adults, conducted on Nov. 14, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/13865