A recent survey conducted by an Arab polling firm of the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank exposes the deep-rooted problems preventing any negotiated peace between the Jews and the Muslims, the National Post reports.

The survey asked what would be the Palestinian’s preferred solution to what is happening in their region.

There were two peaceful options and a third that guaranteed continued bloodshed, suffering, and death.

Of the peaceful solutions, the first had Israel controlling the whole region, including the West Bank and Gaza. Basically, those two regions would become part of Israel. Only 5.4% selected this as their preferred choice.

The second peaceful alternative included a two-state solution, where the Palestinians developed their own separate country which exists alongside Israel. Only 17.2% of Palestinians chose this alternative. This option has been offered to the Palestinians repeatedly over the past several decades, but it has always been rejected.

However, there was a third option on the survey that promised continued bloodshed and suffering.

The vast majority of Palestinians, 74.7%, called for the extermination of Israel and chose a “Palestine state from the river (Jordan River) to the sea.”

The Jews have lived in this region for thousands of years, and in 1948 the international community gave them their own country. They will not give this up.

So until Palestinians are ready to accept Israel’s right to exist, there can be no peace.

READ: Michael Higgins: New poll shows Palestinians are the impediment to peace — not Israel’s war