Poll: Israeli Jews want access to holy sites even under PA rule

51 percent favor negotiations with Palestinians without pre-conditions.

By ETGAR LEFKOVITS
al aqsa dome of the rock 248 88 (photo credit: )
al aqsa dome of the rock 248 88
(photo credit: )
A telephone poll of 506 Israeli Jews, commissioned by the Independent Media Review & Analysis, and carried out this week, found a strong majority of those polled believe Jews should have access to holy sites in West Bank even if they are located in Palestinian territory. According to the results released Thursday, 82 percent said Israeli negotiators should insist on the right of Jews to pray at West Bank holy places that are also holy to Islam, compared to 11% who opposed such a move, according to the Maagar Mochot Poll. The survey also found that 58% of Israeli Jews believed Israel should insist on the principle that Jews could live in territories in the West Bank under Palestinian rule, compared to 31% who were against such a move. More than 60% of respondents said Israeli leaders who are prepared to negotiate with Palestinians, while rejecting these two demands, lack self respect. At the same time, however, 51% of those polled said Israel should engage in negotiations without any pre-conditions, with more than half citing the need to reach an agreement as the principle reason for engaging in negotiations. The poll cited a margin error of +/- 4.5%.