A poll of Israelis and PA Arabs released Tuesday shows that half of Israelis believe that the chances of the UN recognizing a 23rd Arab state in Judea, Samaria and Yerushalayim were low – but 30% said that if such a state were declared, Israel should immediately begin negotiations with it and if there are none, Israel should not make any changes on the ground.

However, 76% of PA Arabs believe there isn’t much to talk about. They said that if an Arab state is recognized in September, the PA must move to impose its sovereignty in all of Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem – even at the cost of ensuing conflict.

Among the moves the large majority of PA Arabs would expect from their government would be the stationing of PA soldiers in Area C, which according to the Oslo Accords is supposed to be under full Israeli military and political control, and the construction of a new airport in the Jordan Valley, near Jericho. The PA army should also be prepared to take control of the Allenby Bridge crossing into Jordan, the respondents said.

With that, 62% of PA Arabs believe that the chances of a new Arab state being established were low, as even if the General Assembly approves it, the Security Council will not approve it due to the expected United States veto.

Among Israelis, 53% said the chances of such a state being established were low for the same reason.

The poll was taken jointly by the Truman Institute of Hebrew University, and the Palestinian Center for Policy and Opinion in Ramallah.

The PA will make a final decision on whether to seek statehood on Sunday, PA sources said. Last week, PA chief Mahmoud Abbas said that 116 out of 192 UN member states were prepared to vote to approve PA statehood.

Quartet member countries plan to meet with Abbas in two weeks in a last-ditch effort to convince him against seeking a UN vote on a PA state.
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Source: www.israelnationalnews.com

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