RAMALLAH, July 21 (JMCC) - A small majority of Israelis supports renewing settlement construction when a ten-month partial moratorium ends in September, finds a new poll.

Fifty-two percent of Israelis favor renewed construction, found the survey by Tel Aviv University, on the grounds that continuing the freeze means capitulation to the Americans and the Palestinians. Some 41.5 percent favor continuing the freeze, in order to help advance the negotiations with the Palestinians and improve Israel’s image
in the international community.

At the same time, more Israelis  -- 45 percent -- believe that the government will extend the settlement freeze than  the 37 percent who think the government will end it.

The poll also gauged the number of Israelis who support negotiations with Palestinians. Just over 71 percent of Israelis support talks with Palestinians, but only 32.3 percent believe that the talks will product peace.

The survey was carried out by telephone over July 6-7, with a margin of error of 4.5 percent.