Polls, Palestinians and the Path to Peace (short article)

[andyfox]

I just took a look at the first poll cited by Pipes. It states that "The recent Israeli incursion policy influenced Palestinian public opinion on various levels. The Israeli incursions caused an increase in support for Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, Fateh Movement and Hamas Movement, while causing a decrease in support for the Palestinian Authority, security agencies and negotiations."

Note that the poll shows that the recent Israeli incursion is responsible for changes in Palestinian public opinion. So how can Pipes say that what Israel does is irrelevant to the conflict?

Pipes did not mention in his article that the poll also showed that "the majority of the Palestinian people, 57.6 percent, believe the time is ripe for conducting reform within the Palestinian Authority." Pipes' portrait of an unbending, monolithic Palestinian postion, opposed to Israel's existence, is simply wrong. Such a viewpoint leads to consideration of "wiping out" the Palestinians.

It's time to stop spewing hatred, as Pipes does.