JERUSALEM (AP) - Most Israelis oppose the latest round of airborne
strikes against Palestinian militants, according to a poll published
Friday in an Israeli newspaper.
The survey in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper found that 58 percent of
Israelis believe that Israel should temporarily halt the killing of
militants to give the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, time
to establish himself in his position.
Under the requirements of a U.S.-backed peace plan, Abbas must rein in
militant groups, but so far he's been unable to broker a cease-fire with
the Islamic Hamas, which has been responsible for most of the suicide
bombings that have killed 368 people over the last 32 months of fighting.
Last Friday, Hamas called off truce talks with Abbas. This week Israel
launched four airborne raids against Hamas members.
The strikes have prompted calls for revenge from Hamas supporters. The
group dispatched a bomber who blew up a bus in Jerusalem Wednesday,
killing himself and 17 other people.
Nine percent of those questioned in the poll said they wanted the
military strikes to stop altogether and 30 percent said they should
continue.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said this week that he would fight
militants ``to the bitter end.'' Israel says it has no choice but to
strike at militant leaders. The attacks often kill civilian bystanders and
Palestinians criticize them as crude assassinations.
The poll also showed that 67 percent of Israelis agree with recent
statements by Sharon that Israel must end its occupation of Palestinian
areas. Sharon made the remarks ahead of the launch of a U.S.-backed
Mideast peace plan that envisions the creation of a Palestinian state by
2005.
The survey, conducted by the Mina Tzemah/Dahaf polling company,
questioned a representative sample of 501 Israelis this week and has a
margin of error of 4.5 percent.
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