A poll has revelaed that two-thirds of Israelis believe a peace agreement between the two states is impossible. The news comes as the military closes off Israel's borders ahead of Jewish New Year festivities.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M. Kahana
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Most Israelis believe that there will never be a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine, according to a special opinion poll published on Sunday.
Ahead of the Jewish New Year festival, Rosh Hashanah, the poll found that as many as two-thirds of the 646 Jewish and non-Jewish respondents said that they do not think a peace accord between the two states will ever be reached.
Around 24 percent thought an accord was possible, but that it would take longer than five years to achieve. Only four percent believe that a peace agreement could be reached within five years. The remaining eight percent were undecided.
The poll was conducted by the Project HaMidgam institute for the Walla news website. Walla did not publish the poll's margin of error, nor did it say when the poll was conducted.
The poll also found that that 56 percent said they believe that life in Israel is good. Regarding problems facing the country, 36 percent highlighted the cost of living as a pressing issue, with security the second most pressing at 24 percent.
Israeli crossings closed off
The peace process between the two states has been hampered since a US-led peace initiative collapsed in 2014.
As Jewish New Year festivities begin on Sunday, the Israeli military has said it will prevent Palestinians from crossing into Israel from Gaza and the West Bank due to security concerns. The military typically closes crossings during religious holidays, but tensions will be high this year.
During last year's Rosh Hashanah festival, a wave of Palestinian attacks killed 34 Israelis and two Americans. Subsequent retaliatory attacks killed around 218 Palestinians.
On Friday, the Islamic Hamas movement called for a "day of rage" in the West Bank and Jerusalem in response to the last year's bloodshed.
Crossing borders
Nearly 50,000 Palestinians officially work in Israel, while around 30,000 cross the border illegally every day from the West Bank to work. Israel does not make it easy for either group.
Image: Reuters
Day begins before dawn
Taysir Abu Sharif Hader is one of 47,000 Palestinians with an official work permit who cross the border from the West Bank every day. Every morning before sunrise, he makes his way to the Qalqilya checkpoint to get to his job in Israel.
Image: Reuters
Long wait
The Palestinians who work legally in Israel have to be patient at the border crossing. But they don't have a choice - there is little work in the West Bank. And if they do find it, they can expect to make only about a quarter of the wages available in Israel.
Image: Reuters
Early start
Palestinians have the opportunity to cross the border from 4 to 6 am. During this time, it's not uncommon for angry scuffles to break out among the workers if a gate at the border terminal isn't opened, or if the process takes too long.
Image: Reuters
Interdependence
In 2000, more than 160,000 Palestinians worked in Israel. But Israel is dependent on the workforce, a fact that became particularly evident in 2001.
Image: Reuters
Fewer work permits since 2001
The Israeli government knows all too well that its agriculture sector needs Palestinian workers. After a suicide attack in mid-2001, all Palestinians were initially barred from entering the country. But the government subsequently decided to allow 5,000 farm laborers back across the border - just in time for the olive harvest.
Image: picture alliance/Photoshot
Buses waiting in Israel
Some 47,000 Palestinians with official work permits make the daily commute from the West Bank. After crossing the border, they are bused to their workplaces.
Image: Reuters
Lower income
Guest workers from the West Bank earn around 50 percent of the salary of an Israeli worker. That represents a significant saving for Israeli entrepreneurs, and for Palestinians it is still more financially rewarding than a job at home.
Image: Reuters
Illegal workers earn less
In addition to the almost 50,000 legal workers, there are also around 30,000 Palestinians who cross the border illegally. They earn about a quarter of an Israeli salary.
Image: Reuters
In danger
Israeli army patrols repeatedly pick up illegal border crossers. They're usually sent back the same day. Being caught makes it even more difficult for Palestinians to get an official work permit.
