Peace Index - 2004

What is your opinion on the agreement that was signed in Oslo between Israel and the PLO (Agreement of Principles)?

Do you believe or not believe that the Oslo Agreement between Israel and the PLO will bring about peace between Israel and the Palestinians in the coming years?

What is your position regarding the carrying out of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority?

Do you believe or not believe that negotiations between Israel and the PLO will bring about peace between Israel and the Palestinians in the coming years?

The international court in the Hague will decide soon on the matter of the separation fence. Do you think that the court in the Hague will be objective in its considerations or will it be biased in favor of the Arab or Israeli position?

There is a disagreement over the question of if Israel should or should not have appeared before the international court at the Hague to present its arguments. There are those who maintain that Israel should have appeared as Israel's not appearing hurt its international image, while those opposing Israel's appearance say it is clear that the ruling will be against Israel and thus it should not have cooperated.

Do you support or oppose the erection of the separation fence in principle?

Do you believe that the unilateral erection of the fence, wall or other means of physical separation by Israel can prevent, or at least significantly reduce terror attacks?

As you know, there is a dispute over the route of the separation fence between those who believe that the separation fence should be in accordance with the Green Line and those who maintain that the Green Line should not be the sole determinant in the setting of the location of the fence, but instead the route should follow security and other considerations of the Government of Israel. Which view do you agree with?

As is reported from time to time, the route of the fence as it is makes it hard for many Palestinians to carry out their daily lives, this including tending crops and traveling between places in the West Bank. To what extent should Israel take into account the suffering caused the Palestinians in the setting of the route of the fence?

From time to time the argument is raised that the separation fence has not advanced at the desired pace out of political considerations. According to this claim, the Government isn't interested in erecting the fence because it fears that this will set the border between Israel and the Palestinian state that will be established in the future. Do you agree?

In your opinion, Israeli citizens who greatly oppose the erection of the separation fence or the route of the fence have the right to express their protest in legal ways, such as demonstrations with a license, petitions, etc. or under current conditions there is no place for protest even if done in a legal way?

And what is your position regarding protest by illegal means against the fence today such as protests without a license or attempts to tear down parts of the fence?

The prime minister proclaimed that if the Palestinians do not cooperate in returning to diplomatic negotiations on the basis of the Road Map Israel will carry out a unilateral policy of disengagement, namely a series of actions to set a separation line, including withdrawal from Palestinian cities and evacuation of some of the settlements.

Under the current circumstances do you support or oppose such a unilateral disengagement?

Under the current circumstances, which of the two possibilities do you prefer?

Within the framework of disengagements, should Israel evacuate the settlements in Gaza?

Do you think that Sharon will evacuate the settlements in Gaza within the framework of the unilateral disengagement he declared?

If there is a unilateral disengagement also in the West Bank do you think that you would support or oppose that Israel evacuates the small and isolated settlements but keeps the large settlement blocs?

And what of the possibility that in a unilateral disengagement Israel evacuates all the settlements from the West Bank, including the large settlement blocs?

In the argument now underway on the matter of targeted killing, there are those who maintain that it would be proper for Israel to stop its policy of targeted killing since in many instances they cause the killing of innocent Palestinians. The opposing argument is that the targeted killings are a measure that is necessary ion order to prevent, or at least reduce, the Palestinian terror that kills innocent Israelis. Which of the two views do you support?

Which among the following politicians and public figures would be your first preference to serve as prime minister?

How do you define yourself politically?

Will Egyptian involvement be helpul in the disengagement process?

Should the settlements building infrastructure be teared-down after they are evacuated?

What are the chances that settlers will use weapons against soldiers who come to evacuate them from their homes?

What are the government’s priorities?

Is the country’s economic situation better or worse than last year?

What grade would you give the government on its economic policy?

The peace index project was conducted by the Tami Steinmetz Research Institute for Peace at Tel Aviv University, headed by Prof. Ephraim Ya'ar and Dr. Tamar Hermann.

Source: Tami Steinmetz Research Institute for Peace, IMRA