Poll: Palestinian Support for Violence Plummets

Numbers In Line With Early 2008, Pre-Gaza Invasion

A new poll from the Jerusalem Media and Communications Center shows that support for armed resistance to the Israeli occupation and rocket attacks have plummeted among Palestinian civilians, with support for popular protests rising.

Rocket attacks were backed by 74 percent in the exact same poll in December, and the new, end of March poll shows the figure down to 38 percent, while those advocating armed struggle went from 51 to 31 percent in the same period. Support for public protests has risen significantly, from 22 to 30 percent.

The numbers suggest that in the wake of the brief November Gaza war the public is rethinking its stance on the peace process, and support for rocket attacks is now down to levels not seen since before the 2008 Israeli invasion of Gaza.

The poll also showed broad support (87 percent) for reconciliation among Palestinian factions, and the formation of the PLO so that it includes all major factions, and not simply Fatah.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.