According to Mina Tzemah/Dahaf poll results published Thursday, just 53 percent of Israelis said they support the plan, as opposed to 38 who oppose it. In addition, the percentage of people who said they were “undecided” about leaving Gaza is rising.
The results continue the trend of recent months. Similar polls conducted in February showed public support for the program at 64-69 percent, with just 27 percent opposed. In April, support had dropped to 59 percent, and to 56 percent in May.
The poll surveyed 501 adults, and has a 4.4 percent margin of error.
This week's disengagement news
- Hight Court approves compensation law Pullout costs rising
- Government unprepared for pullout
- Sharon slams settlers
- Taking it to the streets
- Pullout objectors block train traffic
- Tried to disengage
Right wing protests working
It would appear that growing right-wing protests against the plan - including blocking traffic, gluing shut government offices and ATM machines – have started to bear fruit, whereas Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has failed in his attempt to maintain the overwhelming public support the plan enjoyed just several months ago.
An additional reason for dropping support for the plan appears to be a growing impression that less than 70 days before the plan is due to begin, the government remains unprepared to carry it out.
Earlier this week, Sharon accused the settlers of spreading “disinformation” about the plan and said settler leaders have refused to negotiate post-withdrawal issues with the government. To dispel the image the government has not made sufficient preparations to carry out the evacuation, Sharon invited the media to Wednesday’s weekly meeting of the minister’s committee for disengagement to publicize post-withdrawal options that have been offered to settlers.
Settlers: Sharon panicking
Gush Katif settlers said in response to the meeting Sharon was “panicking” and “lying” in light of shrinking support for the withdrawal.
One spokesman, Eran Sternberg of the Gaza Beach Regional Council, said he believes a simple visit to the Disengagement Authority website vindicates the settlers’ claims.
“Go, have look at the ‘answers’ they are offering people about to be evicted from their homes. Then you’ll understand that (the government’s) is treating Gush Katif residents worse than animals,” he said.
