Sunday, January 06, 2008

81% Of Israeli's Approve Of Assassinations

Poll: 81 Percent Of Israelis Back Increasing IDF Targeted Killings

By Haaretz Service
Last update - 22:11 05/01/2008
Haaretz

A vast majority - 81 percent - of Israelis support increasing the targeted killings of Palestinian militants, according to a poll administered by Tel Aviv University's "Peace Index" survey.

The poll also found that 60.5 percent believe that Israel should not reach a cease-fire agreement with the Hamas in which the Israel Defense Forces would cease targeted killings if Hamas stops firing Qassam rockets towards Israel.

51 percent of those polled said they think Israel must fulfill its commitments from the Annapolis conference and freeze construction in the settlements, compared to 42 percent who did not.

55 percent believe Israel should evacuate the illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank, while 39 percent do not.

The poll was taken a few days after the West Bank shooting attack that left two Israeli hikers dead.

While not justifying the attack, 57 percent said they believe Israelis should not enter areas that are under Palestinian civil control.

77 percent of those polled did not accept Egypt's claim that it is doing all it can to stop the weapon smuggling into Gaza. 81 percent feel Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's public criticism on the matter was justified, despite Egypt's harsh response.

Regarding the release of prisoners, 51 percent of Israelis think the government should loosen the criteria of prisoners who have "blood on their hands" in order to increase the likelihood that abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit will be released.

With the release of the final report of the Winograd Committee's investigation of the Second Lebanon War nearing, 66.5 percent said that if the report includes harsh criticism of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, he must resign even if the committee avoids explicitly calling on him to do so

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