- WASHINGTON -- Upon returning
to Israel after his visit to the White House this week, Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon announced the construction of 22 new settlements in the occupied
territories, despite the fact the Bush Administration has called for a
cessation of the illegal settlements.
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- It seems Americans with the most interest in the region
ó Arab-Americans and Jewish-Americans ó agree with the president.
According to a survey of Arab-Americans and Jewish-Americans regarding
the Bush Administrationís Middle East policies and Israeli-Palestinian
peace process issues, the poll found strong support in both communities
for a freeze on Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied territories,
support for the road map to Middle East peace; a two-state solution; and
an end to Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. This is the second
poll jointly conducted by the Arab American Institute (AAI) and Americans
for Peace Now (APN). This survey reveals increased support for President
Bushís handling of the Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as more backing
for the type of peace proposal outlined at the Taba negotiations.
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- A more complete version of the poll can be found at:
www.aaiusa.org.
-
- The poll revealed that both communities expressed strong
support for the right of Palestinians to live in a secure and independent
state of their own. The majority of Jewish-Americans, 82 percent, supported
the idea of Palestinian state. In the Arab-American community, 92.7 percent
agreed with the right of a state for Palestinians.
-
- Compared with the response to this question in the AAI/APN
poll held October 2002, there was a 6.8 percent increase in the number
of Jewish-Americans who disagree with the right of Palestinians to an independent
state, which the pollsters say draws ìabout equally from those who
earlier agreed or were not sure.î
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- The poll found that both sides strongly believe Israelis
have the right to live ìin a secure and independent state of their
own.î
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- When asked about the Israeli settlement expansion in
the West Bank and Gaza, a significant majority of Jewish-Americans, 70.6
percent, support settlement expansion freeze. Only 20.8 percent oppose
a settlement freeze. Arab-Americans strongly support a settlement freeze
by 80.2 percent
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- When asked about Israel ending its occupation of the
West Bank and Gaza, a majority of American Jews, 58.5 percent, said they
support an end to the occupation; 29.1 percent said they oppose ending
it.
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- http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=29725&d=3&
amp;m=8&y=2003
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