Poll: Israelis Say International Community Favors Palestinians
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JERUSALEM, Israel -- More than 80 percent of Israeli Jews believe the international community favors Palestinian interests over Israeli.
That's one of the findings of the latest "Peace Index" project, which comes out of Tel Aviv University. The survey of 600 Israelis conducted last month focused on Israeli-Palestinian relations and Israel's relationship with the United States and the rest of the world.
"Eighty-two percent of the Jewish Israeli public are either sure (54 percent) or think (28 percent) that the international community heeds Israel's interests less than those of the Palestinians. In contrast, 47 percent of Arab Israelis are sure or think that the international community cares less about Israel's interests," a press release said.
A majority of Israeli Jews (52.8 percent) say their country applies the law equally toward Jews and Palestinians living in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).
That's in contrast to comments made by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro last month, which created a stir.
In a speech in Tel Aviv, Shapiro said, "at times it seems Israel has two standards of adherence to rule of law in the West Bank -- one for Jews and one for Palestinians."
Shapiro later apologized for the timing of the comment after a stern rebuke from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The survey found that just over 50 percent thought Israel would be justified in applying the law toward Jews and Palestinians in the territories unequally.
When asked whether or not the United States "has a right to criticize Israel on issues," such as security in Judea and Samaria, 58 percent of Jewish Israelis said "no."
Seventy-four percent of Jewish Israelis and 70 percent of Arab Israelis said Israel is unlikely to change its policies even if criticized by the United States.
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