A 3rd Intifada against Israel highly likely for Palestinians

A new opinion poll shows most of the Palestinians expect a third Intifada (uprising) against continued occupation of their lands and violation of their rights by Israel.

The results of the survey by the Arab World for Research & Development (AWARD) were released on November 6 and showed that 60 percent of the interviewees predict a fresh wave of anti-Israeli uprising.

They surveyed 1,200 Palestinian adults from October 20 to 22.

The survey also found that 54 percent of the respondents were pessimistic about the US-brokered peace talks between the Palestinian Authority and the Zionist regime of Israel.

On November 7, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned of a third intifada and international isolation of Israel.

“The alternative to getting back to the talks is the potential of chaos,” Kerry was quoted as saying. “Does Israel want a third intifada?”

On November 6, a senior Palestinian Authority (PA) official said there will be no direct talks with Israel if it keeps on expanding illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

“The Israeli side is determined to continue its settlement and we cannot continue negotiations under these unprecedented settlement attacks,” the official said.

Acting PA chief Mahmoud Abbas has described Israel’s settlement activities as damaging to the so-called peace talks.

Israel has recently freed 104 Palestinian prisoners, as part of a deal for the resumption of the talks with the PA, but it has also announced plans to build about 5,000 more illegal settlement units on the occupied Palestinian land.

The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle for the efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.

A total of 6,200 Palestinians died during the first Intifada between 1987 and 1993 and the second one in 2000s, which were both fiercely confronted by Israel.