Most Palestinians favor using Hizbullah methods on “Israel”: poll

Source: AFP, 27-9-2006
JERUSALEM (AL-QUDS) - Most Palestinians favor launching rockets at "Israeli" cities the way Lebanon`s Hizbullah militia did during its 34-day war with "Israel", according to a poll.
Some 63 percent think that Palestinians should emulate Hizbullah`s methods and launch rockets at cities, compared with 35 percent who disagreed, the poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah showed Wednesday.
Some 77 percent, however, support the call for a ceasefire between Palestinians and "Israelis" and 74 percent believe that Palestinians cannot depend on armed action only and must reach a political settlement, the center said.
The survey examined Palestinians` attitudes toward the "Israeli"-Palestinian conflict in the aftermath of the Lebanon war, during which Hizbullah launched nearly 4,000 rockets at "Israel", killing 41 civilians.
"As to the impact of the war on attitudes towards violence, our findings suggest that Hizbullah tactics provide an attractive model for Palestinians` armed resistance," the center wrote.
Some 57 percent favor armed attacks on "Israeli" civilians (citizens) inside "Israel", compared with 41 percent who oppose such attacks, it said.
Around 75 percent support operations in which Palestinian militants seize "Israeli" soldiers for exchange with Palestinian prisoners, compared with 23 percent who oppose.
And 59 percent support a Hamas-led Palestinian government negotiating with "Israel", compared with 38 percent who oppose holding such talks.
The survey was conducted between September 10-19, questioned 1,270 adults in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and has a three percent margin of error.