Tel Aviv University poll shows Arabs, Jews supportive of negotiations between PA and Israel, but don't think they will work.
By ELIEZER SHERMANPrime Minister Netanyahu and PA President Abbas 311 (R)(photo credit: Jason Reed / Reuters)A majority of both Arabs and Jews in Israel believe that Israel and the Palestinian Authority should restart peace negotiations, but think that such talks will not likely lead to peace, a poll released by the Tel Aviv University showed Thursday.According to the poll, which was conducted by the Peace Index, 29.2 percent of Jews and 24.4 percent of Arabs were strongly in favor of restarting negotiations. Another 37.2% and 29.1% of Jews and Arabs were moderately in favor of restarting negotiations, respectively.RELATED:Quartet again calls for resumption of direct talks The 606 people that were polled carried notably bleaker views of what such peace negotiations may produce. Only 5.7% of Jews and 15.6% of Arabs polled said they strongly believed that peace talks between Israel and the PA would actually lead to peace.An additional 22.5% and 17.1% of Jews and Arabs, respectively, said they held the same outlook, but moderately.
A majority both Arabs and Jews polled said they weren't hopeful that negotiations would have fruitful results.The Peace Index is an ongoing project at Tel Aviv University to map public opinion in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and it's impact on Israeli society.The poll came as the Quartet on Wednesday yet again pushed both sides to return to the negotiating table for direct talks "without delay or preconditions."The framework called for a meeting between the two sides within 30 days.The Palestinian Authority has insisted that Israel halt settlements and agree to pre-1967 borders for a Palestinian state before the PA is willing to negotiate.Israel has demanded no preconditions for getting back to the table.
