Here are a couple of indications that Israel is turning rightward. First, here's a survey on whether people would repeat the Gaza expulsion of Jews. Unsurprisingly, they would not. In fact, most people would like to undo it today.
A Geocartography telephone poll broadcast on Israeli Television's Channel 1 yesterday showed the following results:That sounds pretty definitive, doesn't it?62% Israeli Jews oppose additional unilateral withdrawals. 21% were in favor.
Results to the following additional questions appeared to confirm the trend:
Was the 2005 disengagement from the Gaza Strip the right thing to do?
Yes 25% No 54%Since the disengagement, has your support for the settlers changed?
Increased 39% Reduced 14% No change 32%Would there be a civil war if another unilateral withdrawal was carried out?
Yes 50% Maybe 18% No 21%Would you support another unilateral withdrawal?
Yes 21% No 62%Did the disengagement strengthen or weaken Israel's deterrence?
Weakened 55% No impact 28% Strengthened 8%But what might be even bigger news is that Yisrael HaYom (pictured at the top) narrowly edges out Yedioth Aharonoth (YNet) as the top circulating newspaper in the country. Yisrael HaYom is owned by Sheldon Adelson, and is a Right wing newspaper - the only non-religious politically Right newspaper among the Hebrew press. Each of Yisrael HaYom (which is handed out free on street corners) and Yedioth has a 35% market share.
Haaretz - to which many of you likely attribute exaggerated importance because of its internet presence - has a paltry 6.4%.
Many Israelis do buy a hard copy newspaper every day. This is because religious and traditional Israelis don't use their computers on the Sabbath. Once you're paying for the Friday paper, you may as well pay for the rest of the week (it's almost the same price).
For the record, we get a hard copy of the JPost every day.
Haaretz 6.4%?
