Polls show Israeli public in no mood for compromise

Some were troubled by pictures of children and women among the casualties, others voiced trepidation about a ground invasion, but the overwhelming view among Israelis on the streets of Jerusalem yesterday was that their government was right to attack Gaza and the offensive should go on for as long as it takes.

Israel's relentless air strikes on the Palestinian enclave may be drawing strong criticism and calls for a ceasefire in much of the rest of the world, but a common reaction of Israelis is that outsiders simply don't understand what they have been going through.

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Domestic opposition has been much more muted than in some past wars, and even in those areas deemed to be Jerusalem's most liberal, the mood was generally uncompromising.

"I feel terribly sorry for the poor people of Gaza, but this had to happen," said 34-year-old Alona Keren, a chef from the German Colony. "Going in on the ground is necessary because that would be the only way to make sure that Hamas cannot continue firing rockets. I have friends in the army and some of them may not come back from such an operation. But I am afraid that is the price we must prepare ourselves to pay."

Ms Keren, like many Israelis, has spent time in the services – in her case two years in the air force. She also considers herself progressive and the way she votes in the coming general election has been influenced by events in Gaza. "I was going to vote for one of the left-of-centre parties, but I have now made up my mind I'll go for Kadima because it has taken action in Gaza."

An opinion poll this week in the Haaretz newspaper showed support of 71 per cent among the public for continuing air strikes, while 21 per cent backed ground operations as well – the same number who supported a ceasefire.

Polls also showed rising support for centrist parties, with significant jumps in the approval ratings for the Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, outgoing premier Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Ehud Barak. However, the right-wing Likud, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, still remains in the lead.

Miri Scheinfeld, a photographer, was in favour of accepting a proposal put forward by French President Nicolas Sarkozy for a brief "humanitarian" ceasefire. "My mother said the other day that we'll always have war in this country, and that is a very depressing thought. I know that most of the people in the outside world don't like what Israel is doing, but what is happening here is complicated. I am a secular person and I have always hoped the differences between us and the Arabs can be solved. I have gone and worked in Arab villages and will do so again in the future.

"But we had no choice over Gaza, they had been firing rockets at us for over eight years and I am glad we are hitting back at last. I think Hamas wants to destroy Israel. But we have nowhere else to go, so we must fight, although sometimes we use our strength in a wrong way."

The failure of the mainstream parties to bring peace has lost them Ms Scheinfeld's vote. "I am going to go for one of the green parties, I have no faith in the others. If there is any solution to this it will come from the ordinary Israelis and Palestinians."

Soli Furedi, 31, and his wife Sheri, 35, out with their three-month-old daughter, said that they had no interest in politics but the war against Hamas was a matter of Israel's survival. "We really could not let this [the rocket attacks] continue" said Mrs Furedi. " I know it's terrible but what else could Israel do? This is about protecting Israel, it does not mean we like the politicians; they do not fill us with confidence."

The support for the war among his fellow Israelis has left Daniel Ephraim in despair. "They are being manipulated and they do not see that. The bombing of Gaza may be killing some Hamas, but it is also killing civilians," the 28-year-old electrical engineer said.

"They start a war and the popularity of Livni and Barak goes up, this is so cynical. What about the possibility of a real peace? That has been put back by this for years. What is depressing is that such views are being held by younger people now. There was a difference between the old and the young when it came to such aggression in the past, but that is no more."

Meir Ben Hama, 64, has been running his general store for 40 years. "In all that time I cannot remember two years when there was peace, we've always had to face terrorist attacks" he said. "Let us pray for end to violence, but I do not think it will happen."

Timeline: How the bombardment unfolded

*Saturday 27 December

Israeli air strikes on Gaza, in response to Hamas rocket attacks and cross-border raids by militants, kill 225 people.

*Sunday 28 December

Israeli aircraft target a laboratory at the Islamic University and 40 smuggling tunnels connecting Gaza to Egypt.

*Monday 29 December

Israel intensifies its attacks, bombing the Hamas-run interior ministry as Hamas fires rockets deeper into southern Israel. The defence minister, Ehud Barak, warns that Israel will fight "to the bitter end".

*Tuesday 30 December

A Hamas spokesman urges Palestinian militants to respond to Israeli attacks with "all available means".

*Wednesday 31 December

The UN Security Council fails to agree an emergency resolution calling for a ceasefire. Israel attacks the office of the Hamas Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh.

*Thursday 1 January

An Israeli strike kills a Hamas leader, Nizar Rayyan, at home in Gaza. Thirty Hamas rockets are fired into Israel.

*Friday 2 January

Israel bombs a mosque it claims is used by Hamas to store weapons.