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During a press conference with the French Foreign Minister on November 18, Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni addressed several issues relating to a future Palestinian State and its relationship to Israeli Arabs. According to Livni, "The future Palestinian state would serve as a national solution for the Palestinians of the West Bank, those living in the refugee camps and those who are citizens with equal rights in the Jewish state."
This comment suggests that Israeli Arabs would have some role in any new Palestinian State. We decided to ask them whether they would want to remain citizens of Israel or become citizens of a new Palestinian State.
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Overwhelmingly Majority of Israeli Arabs Would Choose to Remain Israeli Citizens Rather Than Become Citizens of a Future Palestinian State
"There has been a lot of talk lately about the formation of a new Palestinian State. It has been suggested by some that Israeli Arabs could continue to live in Israel, but change their citizenship to the new Palestinian State. Given the choice, and continuing to live where you presently live today, would you prefer to be a citizen of Israel or of a new Palestinian State?"
62% of Israeli Arabs would choose to remain Israeli citizens rather than join a future Palestinian State. Only 14% of the respondents would choose to join a future Palestinian State and 24% did not express an opinion or refused to answer.
Mitchell Barak,Managing Director of KEEVOON: "The survey challenges the widely held claim that Israeli Arabs have national aspirations for statehood. Most expressed a desire to remain Israeli when given a choice. The results of the survey also demonstrated a gap between policies articulated by the Government and the citizens it would affect most. While senior members of the Government (including Foreign Minister Livni) have spoken openly about a future Palestinian State possibly including Israeli Arabs who live in Israel, most Israeli Arabs prefer to remain Israeli citizens."
The strongest support for remaining citizens of Israel was exhibited by members of the Druse community, 84% of whom would choose Israel. Lower income households also showed strong support with 71% of them choosing Israel. Men were more likely than women to choose to remain Israeli citizens (67% vs. 56%).
The strongest support for becoming citizens of a future Palestinian State was among students with 21% as opposed to the average of 14%. The largest percentage of undecided citizens was among Christian Arab Israelis with 43% compared to the average of 24%. |
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Israeli Arabs Show Little Faith in Political Leadership's Ability to Make Peace
Barak Most Popular With 18% Support
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Israeli Arabs don't have faith in the current leadership of Israel's ability to make peace with the Palestinian Authority and with Israel's neighbors. Respondents were asked who among Olmert, Barak or Netanyahu is more likely to make peace with the Palestinian Authority and Israel's neighbors. 36% feel that none of them is capable and 28% don't know or refused to answer.
Barak was favored most with 18% followed by Olmert with 8% and Netanyahu with 7%. Barak's greatest support is among the Druse with 29%. Netanyahu's greatest support is among residents of the Negev (22%) and 45-55 year olds (19%). 47% of Christian Arabs and students didn't know or refused to answer this question.
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