Most Israelis do not view PA president as peace partner

Approximately 70 per cent of Israelis do not see Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas as a real partner for peace, according to a recent survey by the Madgem institute. 

According to Israel’s Channel 7 news, which is affiliated with the settler movement, the study found that only 30 per cent of the population believes Abbas is a potential partner for peace.

The survey, which was featured on the Knesset Channel late Monday, also shows that about 61 per cent of Israelis refuse a full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied West Bank as part of any peace deal with the Palestinians, with only 39 percent believing in the necessity of withdrawing from the occupied Palestinians territories in order to achieve peace.

The survey results come a few weeks before the US-brokered peace talks between the PA and Israel come to end on 29 April, although Israel and the US are trying to have this deadline extended.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Palestinians of obstructing the peace efforts, saying during his cabinet meeting that: “The Palestinians have been refusing to change their stance regarding the right of return and the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.”

He added: “Therefore, we cannot say that there is a kind of progress in the talks, but we will continue working with the Americans.”

PA-Israeli negotiations resumed in Washington last summer after the talks were stalled for about three years. US Secretary of State John Kerry has proposed a framework for a deal that he hopes would eventually lead to a peace settlement for the final status issues.

However, PA officials blame the Israeli occupation of undermining the peace efforts by continuing settlement activities, arresting Palestinian citizens, orchestrating daily invasion of Palestinians cities and allowing settlers to desecrate Jerusalem on almost a daily basis.