Inverse: Some years ago, Jerusalem Arabs favored 52% of Israeli citizenship over Palestinian - and now only 15% • Research editor:

• Resident of East Jerusalem prays towards Al Aqsa Mosque // Photo: AFP

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  Photo: AFP

A reversal in the political preference of East Jerusalem residents: Only about 15 percent now prefer Israeli citizenship over Palestinian citizenship, compared to 52 percent who say they would prefer to be "Israeli" rather than "Palestinian" in polls that examined their position on this issue in the first half of the current decade. 

The new polls, which show the dramatic result, were conducted by the Washington Institute in collaboration with Palestinian surveyors, under the direction and supervision of Dr. David Pollock in 2018 and 2019, as well as the first two months of 2020. They were presented this weekend at a zoom event by the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Studies, which assisted To Pollock during his stay and work in Israel, Pollock has been surveying the positions of East Jerusalem Arabs since 2010.

Easy access to the sea

At the end of the week, Dr. Pollock explained that in 2015-2010, many more favored Israeli citizenship on a practical basis, regardless of self-identity or ideology. "They sought easier access to work, education, health, welfare and social conditions, and even to the seaside. But in the last five years there has been a dramatic change, which as a veteran reviewer I have never seen. Suddenly, support dropped from 52 to 15 percent, and only a small minority in East Jerusalem now says in polls that if he had the choice, he would choose Israeli citizenship.

"We found out in depth polls with the Palestinians," Pollock says, "why they changed their preference. There are a few answers that the Palestinians themselves provide: first, the knife intifada that began in October 2015 and lasted about a year and a half, and the Israeli response to the events as they experienced it in their national sense. - The tension around al-Aqsa Many Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank also believe that Israel is a threat to al-Aqsa.

"The third factor behind the change is the increased activity against Israel in East Jerusalem by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, the Northern faction of the Islamic Movement, Turkey and other factors. Also, the fact that 150,000 East Jerusalemis now live" beyond the security fence "and have less access to Israeli services - Impacts the sharp change in their positions. " 

"just a dream"

Most Palestinians, Pollock points out, still believe Israel is not a legitimate state, and objects in all of "historic Palestine," "but they are realistic enough to tell pollsters that it is a dream and that Israel is here to stay."

The Washington Institute's surveys conducted by Dr. Pollock for a decade in East Jerusalem, in Judea and Gaza, raise a great deal of interest among Palestinians, Americans, and Israeli officials, who are already in agreement with Pollock regarding their results.

Pollock also checked with his surveyors, in view of their positions on Israel, why they do not revolt in the framework of another intifada. The answers he received made it clear that the Palestinians fear a harsh Israeli response, and do not even trust their leaders, which will lead them to the intifada, which will eventually have some profit. "At the moment, they care more about everyday life - livelihood, health, education, and family life," he said. In his opinion, future solutions in the east of the city should also be shaped given the opinion, feelings and feelings of the residents.