Exclusive | Israelis want peace with more Arab neighbors but not a two-state solution to Gaza: poll

Israelis want to give peace a chance — with more of their Arab neighbors.A majority of voters in the Jewish state overwhelmingly support making diplomatic deals with nations such as Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia — although they do not agree to a two-state solution, a k a a Palestinian state next to Israel, nor any country but Israel governing Gaza, a new survey reveals.The poll, conducted by the Council for a Secure America, shows that 81% of Israelis already support the Abraham Accords — diplomatic agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.That’s a record high in CSA polling.Only 5% of respondents were opposed, and the rest had no opinion.About 78% of Israelis also support a future diplomatic agreement with Saudi Arabia, while 72% back a friendly deal with Lebanon and 64% support one with Syria, the survey shows.Seventy-one percent of Israelis believe Saudi-Israel relations would help their economy.But the Israelis’ relations with their Palestinian neighbors remain fraught.Hamas’s deadly Oct.

7, 2023, attack against Israel is seared in their memory, and consequently, a 41% plurality believes Israel should govern the Hamas-led Gaza strip, while only 25% prefer an international coalition that includes Arab countries.Among younger Israelis ages 44 and under, an even higher number — or 54% of respondents — want Israel to control Gaza compared to just 15% for an international coalition.The 54% figure is nearly double the number of older Israelis who support sole Israeli governance of the strip.Nearly two-thirds, or 63%, of Israeli voters also oppose a two-state solution, while 22% support it.

Those figures remain essentially unchanged across CSA’s two years of tracking.Opposition to a two-state solution is strongest among younger Israelis: 66% of voters under 44 oppose it, with only 17 percent in support.Most Israelis meanwhile blame Iran for the strife and violence against Israel in the region.For example, ...