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Photo: Government Press Office
Sharon signing orders to evacuate settlements
Photo: Government Press Office

Poll shows 64% back disengagement

During past week, support for Gaza exit increased while opposition declined

JERUSALEM - What does the country really want? Nearly two-thirds of Israeli citizens support Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s disengagement plan, according to a poll commissioned by the “Keshet Yisrael” movement.

 

The phone survey conducted over the past week found that 64.4% of Israelis support Sharon's plan to evacuate all settlements in the Gaza Strip and some in northern Samaria, as compared to 35.6% who are opposed.

 

The  data also shows that during the week of the poll, support for the disengagement plan grew while opposition declined. Support grew from 61% to 64% while opposition declined from 38% to 35%.

 

On Sunday, the day the Cabinet voted 17-5 to approve the disengagement plan, public support grew to a record 67.9% as compared to 32.1% opposed.

 

The poll was initiated by Haifa City Council member Shlomo Gilboa, who says he wanted the government to address important issues rather than the question of whether to hold a referendum.

 

While some have called for a national referendum on the disengagement plan, others claim the clear support as expressed in polls shows that a referendum would be a waste of time and resources. Prime Minister Sharon has rejected any possibility of holding a referendum.

 

'The poll results reinforce what every Israeli child knows'

 

In a statement released with the poll results, Gilboa writes: “Dealing with the question of a national referendum diverts attention away from the truly important question – whether it is good for the state of Israel to leave Gaza and, by its own initiative, draw its security borders."

 

“Whoever asks for a referendum is in effect calling into question the sovereignty of the Knesset, which by a large majority approved the prime minister’s announcement on the disengagement plan, and the large majority that on Wednesday approved the bill to compensate settlers evacuated from their homes. The poll results reinforce what every Israeli child knows,” Gilboa adds.

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.21.05, 13:36
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