A recent Democracy Institute poll shows support for annexation of Judea and Samaria equal to its opposition. Given the fact that Israelis have endured over 20 years of Oslo education, the poll seems to be indicative of changing attitudes towards Judea and Samaria.
If this poll is accurate, the question arises: What caused the Israeli public to change of course?
Gaza a Turning Point
The destruction and uprooting of Jewish communities in Gaza was hailed at the time as the best chance for peace. Israelis trusted Ariel Sharon and even believed the security guarantees offered by the Bush administration. Over the following 10 years Israelis’ basic assumptions about the world have been proven false. Assumptions include the following:
- Arabs are interested in stability
- Secularism will win out
- America can always be trusted
- Giving up land will bring peace
- Security experts know what they are talking about
Given the above list, Israelis see no reason to give up on Judea and Samaria. More and more these territories are seen as an integral part of the Jewish nation. However, despite the positive change in attitude towards annexation, other results from the poll should caution those in the Land of Israel camp.
For example, 61% of the Israeli public disagrees with maintaining the status-quo. This result can be seen as a positive affirmation that Israelis want to push some sort of solution forward. The question for those in the National Camp, is whose solution?
Those on the Right should take the opportunity to push forward a clear plan of action in reference to annexation. The goal should be to win the support of the slight majority willing to undergo some sort of geopolitical change. If not, amnesia of past events will eventually take over again and endanger Israel.
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The Right needs to educate the country on Israel’s historical rights to all of the Land of Israel and what has been given up over the years. The current culture in Israel and the geopolitical instability throughout the Middle East affords the country an opportunity to reverse some of the territorial setbacks that have occurred in the past.