Fully 80 percent of Israeli Jews don’t think a peace agreement can be brokered with Palestinians, a new opinion poll released Friday found. The survey comes just two days after key political players have resumed peace talks in Jerusalem.
The survey questioned: Do you think “this time, we will reach a final agreement that will put an end to the conflict?” And 80 percent of respondents answered, “No.” Only about 6 percent said, “Yes,” Agence France-Presse reported. Just over 14 percent answered, “No opinion.”
The survey was conducted by an Israeli research group, Hagal Hahadash, and included a sampling of 500 Israeli Jews, AFP reported.
Other poll findings: Nearly 78 percent of respondents said they opposed the Israeli government’s release of Palestinian prisoners as a condition of peace talks. Only 14 percent supported the decision.
Israel released 26 Palestinians who have been held captive for various crimes, including fatal attacks on Jewish individuals, on Wednesday, just hours before peace discussions were scheduled to go forth. The 26 were the first of 104 who are set for release.
The research group did not have its poll posted online in English for viewing.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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