Poll: 52% think Intifada will follow statehood declaration

Majority of Israelis think violent Palestinian uprising will come after statehood bid whether or not UN recognizes state.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Intifada_311 (photo credit: Abbas Moumani/Reuters)
Intifada_311
(photo credit: Abbas Moumani/Reuters)
More than half of the Israeli public believes a third Intifada will break out if the Palestinians follow through with plans to make a unilateral declaration of statehood in September, according to a poll conducted by the Dahaf Institute and released by the Knesset Channel on Thursday.
Of those surveyed, 52 percent feared the outbreak of a violent Palestinian struggle in the event of a unilateral declaration of state, while 40 percent of people believed that an Intifada would not break out.
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The poll also found that 54% of the public believe an Intifada will break out even if the United Nations does not recognize the proposed Palestinian state, whereas 38% of respondents believed the opposite to be true.
The survey, conducted by Dahaf Director Dr. Mina Tzemach, also guaged the Israeli public's response to the Palestinian unity deal. Only 30% of respondents said they think Israel should negotiate with a Palestinian unity government including Hamas. Twenty-nine percent of the public said Israel should negotiate with the Palestinians, but not if Hamas is part of the government.
In addition, 29% of respondents believe that Israel should not take part in any diplomatic relations with the Palestinians.