Maariv: 80% of “Israelis” Believe “Peace Talks” to Fail

Local Editor

An opinion poll conducted by "Israeli" daily, Maariv, uncovered that the vast majority of "Israelis" say US-brokered negotiations with the Palestinians will fail to bring any "peace" agreement.
About 80 percent of 507 "Israeli" respondents told the newspaper that they believed the talks would not succeed.

The poll came a week after a visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who kick-started the talks in July after a three-year hiatus and is pushing the two sides to accept a "framework agreement" for final status negotiations.
"Public opinion seems tired, dejected and skeptical after seeing dozens of American mediators and envoys come here over the years and leave empty-handed," Maariv wrote.

The survey showed that 73 percent rejected a total withdrawal of "Israeli" occupation troops from the West Bank under any peace accord.
"Israeli" and Palestinian leaders appear increasingly at odds over irreconcilable demands, including over the borders of a future Palestinian state and an "Israeli" military presence in the Jordan Valley, where the West Bank borders Jordan.
"Israelis" insist the army must remain there in the long term to guarantee the occupation's "security", but the Palestinians insist they must leave and make way for an international military force.

On a related noted, a separate opinion poll by pro-Israeli government "Israel" Hayom said 70 percent of 500 "Israeli" respondents rejected a withdrawal from the Jordan Valley.

Some 53 percent said Kerry was not sincere or "honest" in his quest for peace.

Source: AFP