Direct talks launched, 77% of Americans following reports
Photo: AP
Netanyahu and Abbas. Will they succeed?
Photo: AP
Poll: Americans pessimistic about peace prospects
US voters following news reports about Middle East negotiations, but most believe Palestinians will not recognize Israel's right to exist as Jewish state and Israel will not accept creation of Palestinian state
WASHINGTON – Most Americans are following the Middle East peace talks
which were launched in Washington recently, but are not optimistic in regards to the chances of the process to succeed, a new survey shows.
Seventy-seven percent of all US voters say they have been following recent news stories about Middle East peace talks at least somewhat closely, the Rasmussen survey revealed. Some 35% said they were following the news very closely, while 42% said they were following the reports "somewhat closely."
According to the survey, conducted during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the US capital, most Americans believe the Palestinians will not recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. In addition, most Americans believe the chances of Israel accepting the creation of a Palestinian state are low.
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Some 77% of respondents said they believe Palestinian leaders should be required to acknowledge Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state as part of a peace agreement. However, 64% believe this is unlikely to happen. Only 25% said it was very or somewhat likely that the Palestinian leadership would recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
The Americans believe the chances of a Palestinian state being established are not high. Some 51% believe that as part of a Middle Eastern peace agreement, Israel should be required to accept the creation of a Palestinian state (27% object and 22% are not sure), but only 6% believe it is very likely that Israel would accept the creation of a Palestinian state. Thirty-six percent believe it is somewhat likely, 38% believe it is not very likely and the remaining 9% are convinced that Israel will not allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
As for a possible strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, 51% of respondents said the United States should help Israel if it attacks the Islamic Republic – up 9% compared to a similar survey conducted two years ago. Only 35% said the US should do nothing in the event of such a strike.
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