(JTA) — Both Israelis and Palestinians have become less supportive of a two-state solution to the conflict, with only 51 percent of each now favoring the idea, a new poll reported.
The poll, conducted jointly by Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah, found that support has declined among both populations since last year, when a similar poll was conducted.
Among Israelis, support for a two-state plan decreased to 51 percent, from 62 percent in 2014. Among Palestinians, the drop was less dramatic, declining to 51 percent from 2014’s 54 percent.
As in last year’s poll, each side believes the other side is a “threat to its very existence,” the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey said in a news release. Fifty-six percent of the Palestinians said that Israel is seeking to extend its borders to include the entire West Bank and Gaza and to expel its Arab citizens, while 25 percent believe Israel’s goal is to annex the West Bank and deny political rights to Palestinians.
Meanwhile, 43 percent of the Israelis said that the Palestinians long-term goal is to “conquer the State of Israel and destroy much of the Jewish population in Israel,” the news release said.
The poll also found that 56 percent of Israelis are worried that they or their family may be harmed by Arabs, while 79 percent of Palestinians worry that they or a member of their family could be hurt by Israel or that their land might be confiscated or their home might be demolished.
Researchers interviewed 1,200 Palestinian adults in the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem and Gaza from June 3-6, and 802 Israeli adults interviewed in Hebrew, Arabic or Russian from June 2-14. Both polls reported a 3 percent margin of error.
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