According to a new poll carried out by a Palestinian research centre, the vast majority of Palestinians support the murder of Israeli brothers Yagel and Hallel Yaniv; and as support for armed struggle has risen, support for a two-state solution has dropped, and for the first time ever more than half want to see the collapse or dissolution of the Palestinian Authority.

The poll, which was conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip earlier this month surveyed 1200 adults face-to-face in 120 randomly selected locations.

The period before the poll witnessed several developments including the PA announcing a suspension of security coordination with Israel, escalating armed confrontations with the IDF in the West Bank, continued teacher strikes in Palestinian public schools over the PA withholding salaries, the imposition of one shekel being added to telecommunication bills which will be donated to an East Jerusalem fund, and Jewish settler violence in Huwara.

When asked about the most effective way to bring about the end of the Israeli occupation and the creation of an independent Palestinian state, 77 per cent chose violence (from 68 per cent a year ago). Of that, 54 per cent chose armed struggle (all-out terror similar to the PA-launched Second Intifada) and 23 per cent chose “popular resistance” (a PA euphemism that refers to sporadic terror attacks like stabbings, shootings, and car ramming). Only 18 per cent chose “negotiations”, down from 25 per cent a year ago.

A whopping 71 per cent of Gaza Strip and West Bank residents polled said they supported the shooting of the unarmed Yaniv brothers in late February, while 21 per cent expressed opposition to this and similar armed attacks.

Three quarters, 75 per cent, said they believe Huwara’s settler violence was an expression of the policy of the new Israeli government, whereas 20 per cent blame the violence only on extremist Jewish settlers. About two thirds, 67 per cent, expect settler violence to increase under Netanyahu’s coalition.

Following a call for Huwara to be “wiped out” by Israel’s controversial Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, nearly half, 44 per cent, expect the Israeli government to commit massacres and force a mass Palestinian expulsion.

Of those surveyed, 68 per cent support the creation of armed terror groups to attack Israelis and 63 per cent said they supported the ending of security coordination with Israel.

Backing for a return to armed confrontations and intifada with Israel increased from 55 per cent to 58 per cent.

About 83 per cent oppose the surrender of existing Palestinian terror groups, and 87 per cent believe PA security forces do not have the right to arrest members of those armed groups to prevent them from carrying out terror attacks on Israel.

Support for the two-state solution has declined from 32 per cent to 27 per cent, as approximately 74 per cent no longer see it as a feasible solution to the conflict.

Half of those surveyed expect the anti-government demonstrations across Israel will lead to the fall of the current government.

Regarding the most pressing problems facing Palestinians today, the largest percentage, 38, said it is the Israeli occupation, 24 per cent said corruption and 13 per cent said unemployment. Whereas, when asked what the most pressing problem was of Palestinian society, only 20 per cent the Israeli occupation, less than the 24 per cent who say it is corruption.

And for the first time since the governing body was created in 1994, more than half, 52 per cent, support the dissolving of the Palestinian Authority.

The poll was conducted in cooperation with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in Ramallah.