Poll: 77 percent of Palestinians support the prisoners' document

[Behind the Aegis]

Seventy-seven percent of Palestinians support the "prisoners' document," which calls for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to the results of a poll released Tuesday by Birzeit University in Ramallah.

On Tuesday afternoon, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas extended until the weekend a deadline for Hamas to agree to the plan drawn up by Palestinians jailed in Israel, which implicitly recognizes Israel. The ruling Hamas party has rejected calls to recognize Israel.

The poll also indicated a dramatic drop in support for Hamas. Of the respondents, 37 percent said they would vote for Hamas if parliamentary elections were held today, compared to 50 percent in April. Similarly, 37 percent said they would vote for Fatah.

Hamas and Fatah, Abbas' movement defeated by Hamas in the January parliamentary elections, have been holding talks on the document after Abbas gave Hamas a 10-day deadline to agree to the plan or face a national referendum on the document. The talks broke down for the last time on Monday night, leading Abbas to announce that the referendum would go ahead.


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[Tom Joad]

1. This is good, right?

Many Israelis also support a plan much fairer than the one Olmert is attempting to impose.

[barb162]

2. It seems the sooner a vote is taken, the better

I'm glad to see the Palestinians seem to be dropping support for Hamas