Palestinians mistrust Kerry, Netanyahu, Abbas

Palestinians appear to be more interested in Egypt's revolution than the PA efforts to kick-start the so-called 'peace' talks with Israel. They’re opposed, but don’t really care − that, in essence, is the Palestinian stance on resuming negotiations with Israel along the lines proposed by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

The Egyptian revolution interests the Palestinian public much more than Kerry’s trips. But when asked if they favor restarting talks with Israel, they say no. The general impression of widespread opposition to negotiations was bolstered by a poll conducted in mid-June by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research and published this week.

The poll found that 56 percent of Palestinians oppose the presumed Kerry plan − talks without preconditions focusing on borders and security and a “Marshall Plan” for the PA economy − while only 38 percent support it.

The center’s director, Dr. Khalil Shikaki, said that 54 percent of Palestinians still support Fatah’s program − a state in the 1967 lines alongside Israel. But most think the chances of realizing it are infinitesimal. Yet this lack of hope hasn’t made the one-state solution more attractive: Only 30 percent support that, while 69 percent oppose it.