PALESTINIAN PUBLIC’S WILLINGNESS TO COMPROMISE: TORN BETWEEN HOPE AND VIOLENCE

Michael SCHULZ
327.5(569.4-076)

ABSTRACT

This study has examined Palestinians’ readiness to compromise over the
key issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In contrast to existing opinion
poll results the claim that Palestinians support a territorial compromise over
historical Palestine, this study indicates a radicalization of Palestinian attitudes.
Four survey studies, conducted in 1997, 2001, 2006 and 2009, reveal
that Palestinian support for a two-state solution have decreased at the expense
of an increased preference for an Islamic state in the whole of historical
Palestine. Also, Palestinians do not believe that peace with Israel can be
achieved in the near future, and are ready to continue their struggle against
Israeli occupation in the West Bank. The study also reveals that Palestinians
are becoming increasingly isolated and hence less exposed to alternative
strategies in the conflict with Israel. These attitudinal changes follow the
negative developments in the peace process and the violence that erupted
between Israelis and Palestinians in September 2000. Consequently, the lack
of current public pressure on the Palestinian leadership to find a political
compromise with Israel risks continued deadlock in the conflict. These
changes also partly explain why Palestinians voted the Hamas movement into
power in the January 2006 election.

Key words: Israeli-Palestinian conflict, compromise, public opinion, peace process, violence

АПСТРАКТ

Студијата ја истражува подготвеноста на Палестинците да прифатат
компромис во однос на клучните прашања во израелско-палестинскиот
конфликт. Спротивно на постоечките резултати од истражувањата на јав-
ното мислење кои изложуваат дека Палестинците поддржуваат територија-
лен компромис над историска Палестина, оваа студија индицира радика-