Peace Index / Israeli Jews still backing Sharon

[Gimel]

The number of Jewish Israelis who consider the Sharon government's security policy as successful is double that of those who see it as a failure. Likewise, seven times more people believe the IDF is coping successfully with Palestinian military activity against Israel than say the army has failed in the military confrontation with the Palestinians. The majority feel national and personal security is similar to last year or better, and a minority says these have deteriorated this year.

<snip>

All the above can explain the continued and overwhelming public support for the idea of a unilateral disengagement from Gaza that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is promoting, and the perception that he should not resign because of his failure to obtain a majority for the plan in his party. The view is he should continue striving to promote the idea in other ways, including a change in the makeup of his coalition if he cannot gain a majority for the plan in his party or his government.

<snip>

Taking 1 as total failure and 5 as total success, those who view the government's security policy as successful (by choosing 4-5) is double - 40 percent - the number who consider it a failure - 21 percent (choosing 1-2). Thirty-five percent chose the middle category (3), and 4 percent did not know.

Positive assessment of the IDF's military performance is also much higher. On the same scale, 64 percent, chose the success scale (4-5) and only 9 percent the failure one (1-2). Twenty-three percent preferred the middle category (3), and 4 percent did not know.

<snip>

Full report..

[Lithos]

1. This is a weakness of the opposition

Who have yet to demonstrate significant leadership behind the alternatives. Until an alternative is made available, people will go with the default answer of "Sharon is all there is".

Where is Labour?

L-

[JohnLocke]

2. There were huge rallies about a month or too ago.

Give them time, and they will come.

[Darranar]

3. Rallies in FAVOR of Sharon's disengagement plan...

instead of offering a real alternative that might end up achieving both peace and justice.

[JohnLocke]

4. Well, I take what I can get.

:D

[Lithos]

5. The longer they wait

The harder their job will be.

It's gotten unbelievably bad. Rabin had to resign over $20,000 his wife had in an improper overseas account. Sharon personally is involved in millions in what is at worse bribery, at best unethical business dealings, yet is allowed to stay in office.

L-

[JohnLocke]

6. The whole Greek Island Affair should have been his political death.