Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu may have a harder time advancing a new
diplomatic initiative than he had previously thought, after an automated poll
conducted by a body called the Likud National Task Force found that 83 percent
of Likud members opposed making any concessions to the Palestinians.
The
automated polling system, which settler leaders admit was unscientific, called
113,643 Likud Party members. Nearly 72,000 picked up the phone, of whom
26,959 participated and agreed to answer one question.
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Participants were
given three choices: The creation of a Palestinian state in temporary borders,
an interim agreement with transferring some territory, or no concessions at
all.
Only 5% were in favor of creating a Palestinian state in temporary
borders, even though it could soon become Netanyahu’s diplomatic plan, 12% said
they backed an interim agreement, and 83% opposed any concessions and the
creation of a Palestinian state.
Officials in the Council of Jewish
Communities in Judea and Samaria called the poll a “slap in the face” to
Netanyahu. They intend to intensify efforts to prevent him from advancing a
diplomatic initiative next week.
Mayors from Judea and Samaria, nearly
all of whom are Likud central committee members, intend to come to the Knesset
on Monday to meet with the party’s ministers and encourage them to confront
Netanyahu on the diplomatic issue.
In addition, Likud MK Danny Danon
drafted the support of 10 Likud branch heads calling upon the prime minister to
not surrender territory to the Palestinian Authority. The list includes
key political allies of Netanyahu.