Israelis think Gaza operation against Hamas ended too early: Survey

Jerusalem, Mar. 17 (ANI): Two-thirds of Israelis believe that Operation Cast Lead against Hamas terrorists in Gaza finished too early, A latest poll has revealed.

According to the Truman-PSR poll, only thirty percent of Israelis back reoccupying Gaza in the case of continued rocket-fire on the South Israel, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Only 48 percent Israelis backed a permanent cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas. However, 75 percent Palestinians supported such an agreement.

As far as possibility of Palestinian statehood was concerned, both Israelis and Palestinians saw bleak prospects.

Both said they opposed final status negotiations before 'Road-map' conditions are met, which are Palestinians renouncing violence, and Israelis stopping settlement building.

The study, commissioned by the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah, was conducted in the first week of March.

A total of 1,270 Palestinians and 602 Israelis were interviewed for the study. The interviews involved face-to-face and over the phone methods. The margin of error was 4.5 percent percent. (ANI)