Speaking before the annual general assembly of Jewish federations that gathered in Nashville on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice voiced her assessment that most Israelis are ready to cede the vast majority of Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank, in the framework of the forthcoming Middle East negotiations that are scheduled to commence in Annapolis on November 26.

However, “The Center for Parliamentary Democracy and Jewish Values in Israeli Public Life in Jerusalem,” run by Prof. Yitzhak Klein, who also advises the Israel Parliament Knesset Parliament Law Committee, issued a poll this week which showed that 65 percent of Israeli respondents responded that due to the lessons of 2005’s disengagement from the Gaza Strip, they opposed any large withdrawal in the West Bank.

According to Mr. Klein’s survey, If Israel did withdraw, some 55 percent of the respondents said they believe any territory ceded to the Palestinians would be used to fire rockets at Israelis and 65 percent believe there is a high or very high chance Hamas would take control of the area. In addition, 77 percent said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas lacked the power to prevent attacks from the West Bank.

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