– Is the Cease-Fire Doomed?

Israel's peace partners still seek its demise
Ryan Jones

Seemingly encouraged by Israelis failure to defeat Hizb'allah after more than a month of warfare in southern Lebanon, the Palestinian Arabs are becoming increasingly radicalized in their view of the Jewish state, according to the results of a new public opinion poll.

Conducted by the Ramallah-based Near East Consulting group, the poll revealed that 97 percent of "Palestinians" in Judea, Samaria and Gaza support Hizb'allah in its aggression against Israel. They have gone so far as to publicly cheer on Hizb'allah chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah even when the Lebanese terror group's missiles came dangerously close to impacting Palestinian Authority-controlled towns in northern Samaria.

The poll also showed that public support for Hamas is on the rise, despite Israeli and Western economic sanctions meant to diminish Hamas' appeal on the "Palestinian" street. A 55 percent majority now says Hamas should not alter its position regarding the ultimate destruction of the Jewish state.

Furthermore, support for a lasting peace settlement with Israel is down 25 percent since June. Now just barely more than half of all "Palestinians" even care to negotiate peace with the Jews.