Weekly Commentary: Poll - The Israeli Public Opposes Conceding to Hamas to
Gain Release of the Hostages
Dr. Aaron Lerner 20 January 2024

Dear Reader: if you have been following the Israeli media and the Israeli
talking heads no doubt you think that the Israeli public is willing to
forfeit everything in order to gain the release of the hostages.

The poll below carried out by the leading polling company, Panels, for
"Mother's March", demonstrates that the opposite is the case.
81.5% military pressure is the way to gain their release
72.9% don't accept Hamas' demands to gain their release
70.5% don't pull out of Gaza to gain their release
79.4% don't agree that Hamas remain in power to gain their release

Dear Reader: if you think that this is the first poll carried out in Israel
with these results and that is why this is the first time that these figures
are available I have a special deal to offer you for a bridge in Brooklyn.

Here is a translation of the complete results:

A current affairs survey for the Mothers' March. "Compiled by the market
research company "Panels", under the management of Moti Polak. The survey
includes 509 respondents aged 18 and over, a representative sample of
Israel's adult Jewish population. The data collection was carried out on
16-17/01/2024, using the panel of respondents Panell4All. The maximum
sampling error range for the sample is +/-4.4%.

Findings
1. What is more important:
Achieving the release of the kidnapped 46.6%
Victory in the war against Hamas 44.8%
Don't know 8.6%

2. What is the best way to obtain the release of the abductees?
Put military pressure on Hamas so that it agrees to acceptable conditions
for the release of the abductees 81.5%
Stop the fighting and negotiate with Hamas 10.0%
Don't know 8.4%

3. Should Israel agree to all the demands of Hamas in order to obtain the
release of the abductees?
Yes 12.4% No 72.9% Don't know 14.7%

4. Should Israel agree to withdraw IDF forces from the Gaza Strip in order
to achieve the release of the abductees?
Yes 18.5% No 70.5% Don't know 11.0%

5. Should Israel agree to the demand that Hamas remain in power in the Gaza
Strip in order to achieve the release of the abductees?
Yes 8.1% No 79.4% Don't know 12.6%

6. Should Israel agree to a ceasefire for a long period of time in order to
obtain the release of the abductees?
Yes 38.7% No 47.2% Don't know 14.1%

7. To what extent will a long ceasefire for the purpose of releasing the
abductees make it difficult to achieve victory in the war against Hamas?
Total difficult 83.3% (Very difficult 46.6% Pretty hard 36.7%)
Total will not be difficult 8.4% (Not really difficult 7.3% Will not be
difficult at all 1.2%)
Don't know 8.3%

8. Will a long ceasefire for the purpose of releasing the hostages result in
more casualties among the soldiers when the fighting resumes?
Yes 71.9% No 7.9% Don't know 20.2%
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