Dramatic shift in two-state solution support
AJN poll shows post October 7 opposition to Palestinian state with many former supporters switching
Support for a two-state solution appears to have plummeted among Australian Jewish News readers following the October 7 Hamas attacks, according to the newspaper’s latest social media poll.
The survey, conducted across Facebook and Instagram, shows that 41 per cent of respondents who previously backed a Palestinian state alongside Israel now oppose it – the largest segment in the poll.
When combined with the 28 per cent who report having “always opposed” such an arrangement, nearly seven in ten respondents now reject what has long been considered the mainstream diplomatic solution.
It is important to note that the poll was conducted on social media and open to anyone, making the results unscientific, although more than 1,200 people participated.
Dr Colin Rubenstein, Executive Director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) said, “This result is no surprise at all. The horrors of October 7 not only demonstrated what Palestinian autonomy of the sort that existed in Gaza can lead to, it also saw the supposedly moderate Palestinian Authority respond to the October 7 atrocities by celebrating them, and announcing the terrorists responsible would be added to its ‘pay for slay’ scheme, financially rewarding the murderers and their families”.
“Meanwhile, whatever faith there was in the international community’s willingness to help provide security guarantees for Israel has completely dissipated in the face of the appalling reaction to Israel’s subsequent necessary war of self-defence”, Rubenstein said.
He added that “the evidence is today overwhelmingly that there is no genuine partner for peace on the Palestinian side, while the cultural and political reforms of Palestinian society required to create such a partner is a project likely to take decades.”
The left leaning New Israel Fund describes the result as disappointing but unsurprising.
Executive Director Michael Chaitow said “They reflect a real concern that people have for Jewish security and the security of those in Israel. This is why Israeli social researchers looking for the ‘underlying’ sentiment of Israelis focus on suggesting solutions that emphasise peace and security for all”.
He said in those surveys, Israelis support a regional security arrangement that establishes a Palestinian state led by the Palestinian Authority, in exchange for Arab countries’ recognition of the State of Israel, normalisation of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia and regional security arrangements.
“NIF continues to support this version of peace, one that is preferred by the majority of Israelis and Palestinians alike. We invite all Australians to read more about this peace plan that our partners on the ground, Mitvim and the Berl Katznelson Foundation have developed here.
Dr David Adler from the right leaning Australian Jewish Association described the concept of a two state solution as “the two-state delusion”.
“It does not exist. In various forms it has been put on the negotiating table for over 100 years and as Albert Einstein is credited as saying, ‘insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. The AJN poll is encouraging as it shows the Australian Jewish community now supporting the position of the Israeli government and our brethren in Israel,” Adler said.
He called on other Jewish organisations to “ditch their misguided support for the destructive and inappropriate fantasy of a two-state solution.”
Attitudes could change in the future though, with Rubenstein suggesting that if and when the conditions for a real and lasting two-state resolution are genuinely in place, he is confident support for such a resolution will also be there, both in Israel and in Jewish communities around the world.
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