NEW YORK – A new poll has found that the vast majority of Israelis oppose creating a Palestinian Arab state in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza.

The poll asked respondents if they would support the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state and withdrawal to the 1967 borders (which would include part of Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley, and the Golan Heights) “in return for peace with the Palestinians and the Arab states.” 80% of Israeli Jews said they are opposed. When the poll question was adjusted to include another standard Arab demand, the right of Palestinian Arab refugees to settle in Israel, 93% of Israeli Jews were opposed. The poll was carried out from May 31-June 3, 2002 by the Smith Institute, Israel’s most prominent polling firm; it was co-sponsored by the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) and the Israeli news agency IMRA.

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said: “Contrary to conventional wisdom, the overwhelming majority of Israelis recognize the dangers of a Palestinian Arab state and oppose its creation.”

Another new poll has found that a large majority of Israelis oppose President Bush’s plan to call for the immediate creation of an ‘interim’ Palestinian Arab state. The poll, carried out by the Shevakim Panorama agency for Israel Radio’s “Another Matter” program on June 19, 2002, asked, “Recently the American media reported that the U.S. may propose a temporary Palestinian state. Do you support or oppose the idea of a temporary Palestinian state?” 60% said they oppose it; only 33.5% said they support it.

A November 2001 ZOA-IMRA poll by the Smith Institute found 68% of Israeli Jews believe that “regardless of the size or strength of a Palestinian state, if one is established it will constitute a threat to the State of Israel”; and 64% of Israeli Jews believe the creation of a Palestinian Arab state would “increase the ability of the Arab states to threaten Israel.” Only 9% of Israeli Jews believe creating a Palestinian Arab state would reduce the Arab states’ threat to Israel.