Worthy Christian News > Israel-Palestinian Conflict > Over 60% of Israelis Oppose Palestinian State as Condition for Peace With Saudi Arabia

Over 60% of Israelis Oppose Palestinian State as Condition for Peace With Saudi Arabia

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A new survey shows that 64% of the Israeli public is against agreeing to a Palestinian state in exchange for peace with Saudi Arabia, the Jerusalem Post reports. Conducted by the Jerusalem Center for Foreign Affairs (JCFA), the survey focused on the views of both Jewish and Arab Israelis, JPost reports.

The poll found that 84% of right-wing voters, 54% of centrist voters, and 24% of left-wing voters oppose a Palestinian state as a condition for normalized relations with Saudi Arabia, JPost said. A full report on the survey will be presented at the 13th Annual Jerusalem Post Conference in New York next week.

Officially an enemy of the state of Israel since 1948, Saudi Arabia has recently expressed interest in normalizing relations with the Jewish state as Iran poses a major threat to both countries. Moreover, the United States is urging Saudi normalization with Israel as a condition for a lucrative US-Saudi security deal. At the moment, Saudi Arabia maintains that Israeli acceptance of a Palestinian state must be part of any peace agreement.

“The Israeli government and Knesset have rejected the idea of a Palestinian state as a solution, especially as a reward for Palestinian terror or as a post-Hamas solution,” Dr. Dan Diker, president of the JCPA, said in a statement.

“Public opinion polls now reflect the Israeli public’s understanding of the issue’s significance after October 7,” Diker said. “Given the Biden administration’s policy, it is crucial to convey this message to both Israel’s elected officials and decision-makers in the White House.”