Nearly half of the Israeli public believes the government should recognise a Palestinian state as long as Israel can keep the major settlement blocs, a survey showed.
According to a poll published in the top-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper, 48 per cent of respondents were in favour of Israel backing a Palestinian state – on condition they could keep the five main settlement blocs in the West Bank.
But another 41 per cent expressed the exact opposite view – that in light of a Palestinian plan to seek UN recognition for their state this autumn, Israel should “vehemently oppose” the move, even if it meant a head-on confrontation with the United Nations.
More than half the respondents – 53 per cent – said they believed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should present a diplomatic initiative to end the conflict, including “significant concessions” when he addresses the US Congress next month.
But another 42 per cent opposed the idea of a plan including significant concessions, the figures showed.
The poll was conducted earlier this week before the surprise announcement of a reconciliation deal between the rival Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, which has caused consternation in Israel where it is viewed as a development likely to harm peace.
Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed late last year over a dispute about ongoing Jewish settlement activity.
Following the end of the talks, Mr Abbas has been pursuing a diplomatic strategy aimed at securing UN recognition for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital, in a move likely to take place in September.
Talks between rival Palestinian factions
Here’s a list of meetings between the two factions since October 2009, when their last tentative attempt at inking a deal collapsed:
2009
October 15: Egyptian mediators propose a deal calling for presidential and parliamentary elections in mid-2010, which proposes bolstering the Fatah-dominated security forces and the release of prisoners held by both sides. Fatah signs the deal while Hamas repeatedly postpones its official res-ponse, saying it needs more time to mull the deal.
2010
February 14: The factions meet in Gaza to discuss ways of overcoming the obstacles that blocked the inking of the Cairo pact.
September 25: Another round of talks in Damascus is hailed by Hamas supremo Khaled Meshaal as “serious,” with the two rivals agreeing to meet again soon to follow up and sign the Cairo agreement.
November 9: The rivals gather in the Syrian capital again for talks which fail to resolve the security issue, Hamas officials say, with the two sides pledging to meet later in the month.
The planned meeting never takes place after a spate of tit-for-tat arrests sours the atmosphere.
2011
March 15: Tens of thousands of Palestinian activists take to the streets in a mass call for reconciliation, prompting president Mahmud Abbas and Hamas premier Ismail Haniya to publicly pledge to patch up their differences.
April 7: Abbas holds reconciliation talks with Egypt’s new leaders for the first time since the overthrow of President Mubarak following weeks of protests.
April 27: Fatah and Hamas say they have reached an “understanding” in Cairo to set up a transitional unity government and hold elections.