Israeli Attitudes Toward the Closure of the Gaza Strip www.gisha.org/index.php?intLanguage=2&intItemId=1318&intSiteSN=119 · Commissioned by: Gisha-Legal Center for Freedom of Movement and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel · Survey Developed and Analyzed by Dahlia Scheindlin, "Research and Strategy International" · Data collection by Ma'agar Mohot, 1-11 June 2008 · N=600 (representative sample, Jewish Hebrew-speaking Israelis); margin of error: +/- 4.5%

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List of Questions and Responses

1. Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, there has
been a full closure placed on the Gaza Strip, preventing the free entrance
and exit of supplies such as food, clothing, fuel, raw materials and
medicine, and preventing residents from leaving or entering Gaza. In your
opinion, what is the goal of the closure?
(responses prompted)
-Prevent the movement of goods or people who could endanger the security of
Israelis: 32%
-Place direct pressure on Hamas to change its policies: 27%
-Cause the residents of Gaza to bring down the Hamas regime: 26%
-Punish the residents of Gaza for the firing of Qassam rockets: 10%
(not read: Don't know/none of them): 5%

2. What are the chances that because of the pressure Israel is placing
on Gaza, the Palestinian residents will overthrow the regime and bring down
Hamas?
Very strong chance: 8%
Strong chance: 12%
Slim chance: 56%
No chance at all: 22%
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Total Chance: 20%
Total No Chance: 78%

3. In your opinion, is the following statement true or not true: "The
closure of the Gaza Strip primarily affects the civilian population - the
residents of Gaza - and creates hardship in their daily lives."
True: 79%
Not True: 18%

4. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "The hardship
that the closure causes in the lives of Gaza residents is likely to cause
them to turn toward Islamic extremism."
Strongly agree: 28%
Somewhat agree: 32%
Somewhat disagree: 18%
Strongly disagree: 19%
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Total agree: 60%
Total disagree: 37%

5. In your opinion, has Israel's policy of closure in Gaza had a
positive or negative effect on Israel's standing in the world?
Israel's standing - much more positive because of the closure: 8%
Israel's standing - somewhat more positive: 13%
Israel's standing - somewhat more negative: 43%
Israel's standing - much more negative because of the closure: 24%
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More positive: 21%
More negative: 67%

6. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "Pressure on
the civilian population of Gaza, including, for example, preventing medical
care for seriously ill patients who need to leave to receive medical
treatment, is justified if it weakens Hamas."
Strongly agree: 27%
Somewhat agree: 21%
Somewhat disagree: 25%
Strongly disagree: 24%
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Total agree: 48%
Total disagree: 49%

7. Over the last year, do you think Hamas has gotten stronger or
weaker?
Much stronger: 62%
Somewhat stronger: 21%
Somewhat weaker: 9%
Much weaker: 1%
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Total Stronger: 83%
Total Weaker: 10%

8. Do you think that the residents of the Gaza Strip deserve human
rights?
Yes: 76%
No: 23%

9. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Those who
support human rights for Palestinian residents, including people who aren't
combatants, are against Israel.
Strongly agree: 24%
Somewhat agree: 14%
Somewhat disagree: 24%
Strongly disagree: 33%
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Total agree: 38%
Total disagree: 57%

10. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "Because of the
closure on Gaza, the price of bread and basic goods there has risen
drastically, 95% of industry in Gaza is paralyzed, the middle class has
collapsed and patients are unable to leave for medical treatment. These
side-effects are justified, if the security of Israeli citizens improves."
Strongly agree: 39%
Somewhat agree: 24%
Somewhat disagree: 17%
Strongly disagree: 15%
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Total agree: 63%
Total disagree: 32%

11. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "The closure
creates hardships for the residents and drives them to desperation, which is
likely to cause increased violence against Israel. Therefore, Israel should
ease the closure of Gaza."
Strongly agree: 16%
Somewhat agree: 18%
Somewhat disagree: 22%
Strongly disagree: 41%
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Total agree: 34%
Total disagree: 63%

12. Over the last year, do you think the security of the state has gotten
better or has it gotten worse?
Much better: 5%
Somewhat better: 18%
Somewhat worse: 32%
Much worse: 36%
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Total Better: 23%
Total Worse: 68%

13. Over the last year, do you think the security of Sderot and the
Israeli towns surrounding Gaza has gotten better or has it gotten worse?
Much better: 2%
Somewhat better: 5%
Somewhat worse: 17%
Much worse: 68%
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Total Better: 7%
Total Worse: 85%