An overwhelming majority of Israelis want leaders of the governing Palestinian movement Hamas assassinated in order to release a captured soldier and stop rocket attacks, a poll revealed yesterday.
The survey found that 82 percent of people questioned suggested the military "begin assassinating Hamas leaders" given that the armed wing of the faction has claimed a series of attacks, including one in which the soldier was taken.
Another 52 percent of respondents favored the bombing of targets in the Gaza Strip, even if this could lead to a loss of civilian lives, while 53 percent thought the military should reoccupy parts of the territory.
Only 20 percent thought Israel should release Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of the 19-year-old soldier -- compared with 53 percent who favored negotiations in a poll published last Friday.
Forty-seven percent of respondents said there were dissatisfied with the performance of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is facing the first real test of his leadership in the crisis.
Twenty-four Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have been killed in the past 24 hours as Israel widened its assault in Gaza, reoccupying land evacuated 10 months ago in a bid to stop rocket attacks and secure the soldier's release.
The survey, carried out by an independent institute, was based on a representative sample of 500 people and carried a 4.3 percent margin of error.
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