"Benlolo points to opinion polls which show that Palestinians have lost hope in a political outcome and are turning to armed struggle as a last resort. However, he ignores the many troubling polls which show that Jewish Israelis do not support democracy or equality."
March 24, 2023
Re: Avi Benlolo: “Palestinian intransigence once again dashes hope for peace in the Middle East”
Benlolo points to opinion polls which show that Palestinians have lost hope in a political outcome and are turning to armed struggle as a last resort. However, he ignores the many troubling polls which show that Jewish Israelis do not support democracy or equality. In January, a joint Palestinian-Israeli poll found that only 34% of Israelis want a two-state solution, and that a larger number would prefer a single Jewish-dominated state which denies equal rights to Palestinians (37%). The same month, a poll by the Israel Democracy Institute found that about half of Israeli Jews believe they should have more rights than Palestinian citizens. Last year, a poll by the Israeli Democracy Institute found that 60% of Jewish Israelis support segregation from Palestinian citizens. Only external pressure will convince Jewish Israelis to accept peace and dismantle the current structures of apartheid.
Michael Bueckert, PhD
Vice President, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Montreal