(IsraelNN.com) Following the deal with Hizbullah, the Arabs of Judea and Samaria feel more strongly than ever that "Israel only understands strength," according to a Saudi newspaper.

The paper, Al Sharq Al-Awsat, reported that this attitude has been strengthened by Israel's reported flexibility toward Hamas' demands to free prisoners who were involved in wounding Israelis, as part of the deal to free abducted soldier Gilad Shalit.

The paper says that the relatives of Arab prisoners from Judea and Samaria who are not under Hamas control have "begun to lose hope" that the Fatah-PA will be able to secure their release through negotiations with Israel.

Deal 'invites violence'
The PA-Fatah's "Minister for Prisoners" Ashraf Al-Ajrami said that Israel's willingness to free the prisoners in swaps after it refused to do so as part of the "peace process" embarrasses the PA, broadcasts "negative messages" and invites violence. The proper way to release prisoners is through diplomacy, he said.

Hamas leader Mahmoud A-Zahar said Monday that the release of Samir Kuntar is "a positive precedent" for Hamas which will use it in talks with Israel and demand the release of prisoners "that Israel considers to be murderers."

39% of Arabs: Israel is weaker
A survey of six Arab Middle Eastern countries found that 39% of the Arabs think that Israel has become weaker, and that it is only a matter of time until it is defeated. The survey was conducted by Dr. Shibli Talahmi of Princeton University for the Saban Center in the Brookings Institute, and surveyed "urban and educated" people in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
A-Zahar said Monday that the release of Samir Kuntar is "a positive precedent."

99% of the Shiite Muslims who were surveyed agreed with the statement about Israel's weakness.

Annapolis backfired
The survey found that 50% of the Arabs do not believe Israel will ratify a peace treaty based on the June 4 1967 borders. 55% expect long tern violence in the region if the current "peace process" collapses. 86% see the "Israeli-Palestinian" conflict as the major problem in the region. A full 100% of the people surveyed in Jordan said this was so, as did 99% of those surveyed in Lebanon.

The survey showed that the Annapolis conference and the Bush administration's attempts to weaken Hamas failed and that Arab support for the terror group has increased over the last year.