This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
JERUSALEM – A newly released poll shows the level of support for the declaration of Jewish sovereignty in Judea and Samaria continuing to climb following the current pause in the fighting of the Swords of Iron war.
The data, which the Sovereignty Movement and Pulse of Israel presented, examined the Israeli public's views regarding sovereignty versus a Palestinian state, sovereignty versus the prospect of normalization with Saudi Arabia, and more.
The headline result was the 71% of respondents – an overwhelming majority – oppose the creation of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria in the wake of the Oct. 7 massacre, which left some 1,200 people dead and kidnapped 251 people to Gaza, 79 of whom remain in captivity, with 35 of them assessed to no longer be alive.
According to the poll, the 71% is made up of 59% of respondents who were always opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state and remain so today, while another 12% previously supported the idea, but have changed their minds as a result of the Hamas onslaught and the resultant war. Meanwhile, 25% previously supported the idea of a Palestinian state and still do so today, and curiously 4% support the idea while they previously opposed its creation.
In light of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Washington, D.C. visit for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, at which much will be up for discussion, including the possibility of the normalization of ties with Saudi Arabia – potentially in return for the establishment of a Palestinian state – the results were clear, if less emphatic.
More than half of the respondents, some 53%, said they would oppose a peace agreement with the Saudis if it was conditional on the recognition and establishment of a Palestinian state. Over a third, at 39%, said they would support such an agreement, while 8% said they had no opinion.
In response to President Trump's floating of the idea of voluntary migration for Gaza's population, 80% reacted with favor, while the remainder was split between opposing the idea and those with no opinion on the matter.
Of the 68% of respondents that agree to sovereignty in some form:
The survey also examined the ranking of the benefits of sovereignty in the eyes of the Israeli public. The factor which resonated most with respondents is security and regional stability (42%), second is Jewish identity and historical connection (16%), and the third-most important reason with 9% is strengthening Israel's diplomatic and political arguments.
Nadia Matar and Yehudit Katsover, co-chairs of the Sovereignty Movement added "The Sovereignty Movement is very pleased with the results of the poll, which reflect the health of the nation and the awakening from the illusion of peace through a Palestinian state. The Israeli public now understands that only sovereignty is the plan that will bring security and regional stability.
Avi Abelow, the CEO of Pulse of Israel, said: "It is quite clear that the Israeli people are looking for our leaders to stand up and work with President Trump and his administration to apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria because Israelis have realized Arab self-rule in Judea and Samaria is an existential danger to all of our lives, as it was in Gaza."
"Sovereignty is also the best application of President Trump's 'peace through strength' doctrine against an enemy that educates its children to kill Jews and destroy the Jewish state of Israel. The goal of the Palestinian Authority is the same as Hamas; it is time Israel acts in our interests based on this understanding."
