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Israelis want Hamas leaders dead
07/07/2006 13:17 - (SA)
Jerusalem - An overwhelming majority of Israelis want leaders of the governing Palestinian movement Hamas assassinated in order to release a captured soldier and stop rocket attacks, a poll revealed on Friday.
The survey found that 82% of people questioned suggested the military "begin assassinating Hamas leaders" given that the armed wing of the faction has claimed a series of attacks, including one in which the soldier was taken.
Another 52% of respondents favoured the bombing of targets in the Gaza Strip, even if this could lead to a loss of civilian lives, while 53% thought the military should reoccupy parts of the territory.
Only 20% thought Israel should release Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of the 19-year-old soldier - compared to 53% who favoured negotiations in a poll published last Friday.
Forty-seven percent of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the performance of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is facing the first real test of his leadership in the crisis.
Twenty-three Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have been killed in the past 24 hours as Israel widened its assault in Gaza, reoccupying land evacuated 10 months ago in a bid to stop rocket attacks and secure the soldier's release.
The survey, carried out by an independent institute, was based on a representative sample of 500 people and carried a 4.3% margin of error.
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