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Peace in the Middle East

18 Apr 2011

Q. What, in your view, is the single biggest obstacle to peace in the Middle East?

Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
Unwillingness of Israelis/ Palestinians to compromise 33% 38% 31% 37%
The Israeli (housing) settlements in areas which Palestinians claim for an independent Palestine 6% 6% 7% 14%
Israel’s oppression of Palestinians 8% 8% 8% 15%
Palestinian terror attacks on Israelis 5% 3% 7% 5%
Infighting between the various Palestinian organisations (e.g. Hamas and Fatah) 6% 5% 7% 4%
Inaction by the United Nations 3% 4% 3% 2%
Opposition to Israel from other Middle Eastern countries 8% 7% 9%
Don’t know 31% 29% 28% 23%

One third (33%) of respondents think that the unwillingness of Israelis and Palestinians to compromise is the single biggest obstacle to peace in the Middle East and a further one third (31%) do not know. The remaining 36% selected a range of reasons including Israel’s oppression of Palestinians (8%) and opposition to Israel from other Middle Eastern countries (8%).

There were few substantial differences across voter groups.

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