Jerusalem News (2 September, 2014, 7 Elul, 5774)
Duration: 18.62 minutes
Contents:
1. Palestinians Are Now Even More Supportive of Hamas!
PSRÂ (Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research): Special Gaza War Poll
2. Infant wounded by stones thrown at bus in Jerusalem
3. France and Saudi Arabia to Sign Arms Deal for Lebanon
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1. Palestinians Are Now Even More Supportive of Hamas!
PSRÂ (Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research): Special Gaza War Poll
http://www.pcpsr.org./en/special-gaza-war-poll
Extracts:
Gaza War ends with a victory for Hamas leading to a great increase in its popularity and the popularity of its approach of armed resistance: for the first time since 2006, Hamas wins parliamentary and presidential elections if they were to take place today while West Bankers support transferring Hamas' approach to the West Bank
These are the results of the latest poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip between 26-30 August 2014. The period before the poll witnessed the eruption of the Gaza War which was preceded by the kidnapping and killing of three Israelis. More than 2000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed during the war.
[The Palestinians claimed most of the of casualties were civilians. The Israeli claim differently. The Israeli point out a that a disproportionate number of the Palestinian deaths were young adult males and therefore probably participants in Hamas terrorists ranks.]
About 70 Israelis, mostly from the military, were killed during the war.
It is worth noting that the size of the change in favor of Hamas is unprecedented since 2006. Indeed, if presidential elections were to take place today, Ismail Haniyeh would easily win over Abbas and Hamas would win the largest percentage of the popular vote in parliamentary elections. The overwhelming majority of the public views Hamas as the winner and Israel as the loser in this war. Furthermore, a similar majority views Hamas' approach of armed confrontation with Israel as the most effective means of ending Israeli occupation. Indeed, an overwhelming majority of West Bankers wants to transfer 'Hamas' way' to the West Bank and rejects the demand to disarm the Islamist group or to disband the other Gazan armed groups. Findings also indicate that the public see Iran, Turkey, and Qatar as the most instrumental in supporting Hamas and helping Gazans remain steadfast against the Israeli attacks. By contrast, Egypt's role is seen as week and unhelpful. Indeed, a majority believes that Egypt played a negative role in the ceasefire negotiations.
Finally, despite the fact that the Palestinian Authority, Abbas, and prime minister Rami al Hamdallah received little positive evaluation for their role during the war, a majority tends to give the reconciliation government a big role in the affairs of the Gaza Strip in the post war period. For example, a majority wants it to control border crossings and to supervise police and security sector employees; the largest percentage wants it to control borders with Israel and Egypt and to lead the reconstruction process in the Strip.
An overwhelming majority of 86% support the launching of rockets from the Gaza Strip at Israel if the siege and blockade are not ended.
60% say that Hamas does not launch rockets from populated areas, but 30% say it does. 49% think it is justified for Hamas to launch rockets from populated areas and 46% disagree with that. Percentage of those who believe that launching rockets from populated areas is unjustified increases to 59% among Gazans while standing at 38% among West Bankers.
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2. Infant wounded by stones thrown at bus in Jerusalem
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4566542,00.html
Noam 'Dabul' Dvir
Published: 09.02.14, 00:36 / Israel News
Two separate incidents, both most likely motivated by a nationalistic background, took place on Monday evening in Jerusalem and Shomron.
A two-and-a-half-year-old infant was lightly wounded by glass shards after unknown perpetrators hurled rockets at a bus in a Jerusalem street. Earlier in the evening, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a bus on Route 505 between Tapuach and Sha'ar Shomron. The bus driver suffered light wounds from glass shards from the windshield of the bus.
On last Thursday, a two-year-old toddler was lightly wounded when a stone was thrown at an Israeli vehicle near the Yitzhar junction in the West Bank. According to the IDF, dozens of Palestinians had been throwing stones and various objects at Israeli vehicles that were driving through the area.
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3. France and Saudi Arabia to Sign Arms Deal for Lebanon
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/303328#.VAWCr5td474
France and Saudi Arabia are close to signing a $3 billion arms deal for Lebanon, the Elysee Palace said on Monday, according to AFP.
"It will not be signed Monday but it is being finalized," an aide to President Francois Hollande said. The deal is for military equipment and arms to be supplied to Lebanon's army.
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Hebrew Nations Comment:
An attempt is being made to revitalize Lebanon. At present the largest group (possibly a majority of the total) of people in Lebanon are Sunni Muslim refugees from Syria.
France once ruled over Lebanon and has always had an interest in her.
The Saudis are afraid of the spread of ISIS into Lebanon and of what may happen if Syria of Assad collapses.