Poll: American Jews Back Geneva Accord

NEW YORK - Jewish Americans strongly support the peace proposals outlined in the Geneva Accord, including a freeze in settlement expansion, the use of international monitors to determine Israeli and Palestinian compliance with agreements, and the right of the Palestinian people to statehood, according to a new survey.

The survey, commissioned by Americans for Peace Now (APN) and conducted by Zogby International, found that 62.7% of respondents support a halt in Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and Gaza; 69.7% support tasking international monitors with verifying both sides' compliance with peace agreements; and 85.4% support the right of the Palestinians to statehood.

In addition, 60.3% support the Geneva Accord's formula for Palestinian refugees, which, according to the survey, would entitle them to compensation and the right to settle in a future state of Palestine or third countries.

"Our poll underscores the strong backing for pro-peace policies in the Jewish American community at large that often gets overlooked in the Jewish organizational world and Washington debates," said APN president Debra DeLee.

The survey, which was conducted between January 12 and 15, also found that 46.9% of 500 Jewish American respondents favor designating Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine, compared to 39.4% who are opposed, and 31.6% said they agree with the claim that significant US involvement is needed to help the sides reach a peace deal, compared to 63% who said they disagree.

The poll's margin of error was plus or minus 4.5%.