results of pinion poll in palestine

Bears and Bulls, if you can open your mind to put yourself in the position of the Palestinians, this poll gives some insight. The Palestinian people seem to have a pretty down to earth grasp of their true situation.

August 29, 2002
Results of Palestinian Poll:

Below are the results of opinion poll #5, conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) between 18-21 August 2002. The poll deals with the public attitudes toward the peace process and reconciliation, armed confrontations, evaluation of the PA performance, political reform, and the popularity of Arafat, Fateh, and Islamist groups. The total sample size of this poll is 1320 from Palestinians 18 years and older, interviewed face-to-face, in 120 locations in the West Bank (814) and the Gaza Strip (506). The margin of error is 3%. PSR - Survey Research Unit: Public Opinion Poll # 5 - results in %

All the questions:

01. Israel proposes a gradual implementation of a cease-fire that would start in the Gaza Strip and extend subsequently to West Bank cities. Israeli forces would withdraw to the lines of September 2000 from those areas in which a cease fire is implemented. Do you support or oppose this proposal?
1. Strongly support 7.1
2. Support 40.8
3. Oppose 35.2
4. Strongly oppose 14.7
5.Do not know / no opinion 2.3

02. Internal Palestinian efforts are underway to create a consensus around means of fighting Israeli occupation. These efforts call for cessation of armed attacks against Israeli civilians inside Israel. Do you support or oppose these efforts?
1. Strongly support 5.8
2. Support 37.7
3. Oppose 38.7
4. Strongly oppose 14.3
5. Do not know / no opinion 3.6

03. The Palestinian Authority says that it welcomes Egyptian and Jordanian security roles in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Do you support or oppose this position?
1. Strongly support 2.1
2.Support 29.2
3. Oppose 44.7
4. Strongly oppose 19.8
5. Do not know / no opinion 4.2

04. Palestinian-Israeli meetings are being conducted in order to reach an agreement on a gradual ceasefire and a gradual Israeli withdrawal that would start in the Gaza Strip and a city in the West Bank. What do you expect to happen now?
1. Negotiations will resume soon enough and armed confrontations will stop 15.5
2. Negotiations will resume but some armed attacks will continue 41.5
3. Armed confrontations will not stop and the two sides will not return to negotiations 34.9
4. Don't know 8.2

05. The Jordanian government puts obstacles making it difficult for Palestinian to travel to Jordan across the Allenby Bridge for fear of mass emigration from the West Bank. Do you think it is right or wrong for Jordan to do so?
1. Right for Jordan to do so 30.7
2. Wrong for Jordan to
do so 66.4
3. Do not know / no opinion 2.8

06. There are internal and external calls for wide and fundamental domestic reforms and changes in the institutions and authorities of the Palestinian Authority. Do you support or oppose these calls?
1. Strongly support 28.5
2. Support 55.1
3. Oppose 10.4
4. Strongly oppose 1.9
5. Do not know/ No opinion 4.0

The following measures are among the proposed reform steps. Tell us if you support or oppose each 07-1 the appointment or election of a prime minister
1. Strongly support 13.3
2. Support 56.3
3. Oppose 18.1
4. Strongly oppose 4.3
5. Do not know/ No opinion 8.0

07-2 Changing the Palestinian presidential system to a parliamentary system in which power resides in the hands of a prime minister while the position of the president is ceremonial?
1.Strongly support 8.8
2. Support 35.3
3. Oppose 38.3
4. Strongly oppose 10.0
5. Do not know/ No opinion 7.7

08. Among the reform measures implemented by the Palestinian Authority has been the formation of a small cabinet. Do you have confidence in the ability of the new cabinet to reform internal conditions and deal with Israel?
1. Yes, I have confidence 25.1
2. No, I do not have confidence 61.5
3. Do not know / no opinion 13.4

09. Among the reform steps declared by the new cabinet is the One-Hundred Day Program of political and financial reform. Looking at the steps taken so far by the new cabinet, do you believe it has the intention of implementing this reform program?
1. Yes 33.8
2. No 51.4
3. Do not know / no opinion 14.7

10. In your view, who is hindering political reform in Palestine?
1. The Palestinian leadership 11.0
2. Israel 43.7
3. Both, the Palestinian leadership and Israel 34.7
4. Others, 6.5
5. Do not know / no opinion 4.1

11. Do you believe that armed confrontations so far have helped achieved Palestinian rights in a way that negotiations could not?
1. Definitely yes 24.5
2. Yes 46.0
3. No 20.8
4. Definitely no3.9
5. No Opinion/ Don't know 4.7

12. After reaching a peace agreement between the Palestinian people and Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state that is recognized by Israel, would you support or oppose the process of reconciliation between the state of Palestine and the state of Israel?
1. Strongly support 10.0
2. Support 62.8
3. Oppose 17.5
4. Strongly oppose 8.0
5. No opinion/do not know 1.7

13. After reaching a peace agreement between the Palestinian people and Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state that is recognized by Israel, how soon do you think will reconciliation between the two peoples be achieved?
1. Reconciliation is not possible ever 43.0
2. Only in many generations to come 14.4
3. Only in the next generation 10.6
4. Only in the next decade 6.6
5. On the next few years 12.6
6. No Opinion /Don't know 12.8

14. After reaching a peace agreement between the Palestinian side and Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state that is recognized by Israel, the following are steps may be taken in order to enhance relations between the State of Israel and a Palestinian State. For each of the suggested steps please tell me whether you support or oppose it:
14-1 Open borders to free movement of people and goods
1. Strongly Support 20.0
2. Support 63.6
3. Oppose 12.1
4. Strongly Oppose 2.6
5. Don't Know 1.7
14-2 Create joint economic institutions and ventures
1. Strongly Support 11.5
2. Support 56.0
3. Oppose 25.7
4. Strongly Oppose 4.2
5. Don't Know 2.5
14-3 Create joint political institutions (such as a parliament. designed eventually to lead to a confederate system
1. Strongly Support 3.0
2. Support 19.1
3. Oppose 52.2
4. Strongly Oppose 19.8
5. Don't Know 5.9
14-4 Take legal measures against incitement against Israel
1. Strongly Support 3.2
2. Support 29.4
3. Oppose 47.6
4. Strongly Oppose 15.3
5. Don't Know 4.5
14-5 Adopt school curriculum in the Palestinian state that recognizes Israel and teaches school children not to demand return of all Palestine to the Palestinians
1. Strongly Support 0.8
2. Support 7.4
3. Oppose 51.7
4. Strongly Oppose 36.3
5. Don't Know 3.9

15. After reaching a peace agreement between the Palestinian side and Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state that is recognized by Israel, would you, under these conditions of peace, invite an Israeli colleague to visit you in your home?
1. Definitely yes 6.5
2. Yes 30.5
3. No 37.0
4. Definitely no 25.0
5. Don't Know 0.9

16. After reaching a peace agreement between the Palestinian side and Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state that is recognized by Israel, would you, under these conditions of peace, visit an Israeli colleague in his home?
1. Definitely yes 6.8
2. Yes 28.6
3. No 38.8
4. Definitely no 24.8
5. Don't Know 1.0

17. In your opinion, is lasting peace possible between Israelis and Palestinians?
1. Definitely Possible 2.6
2. Possible 22.0
3. Impossible 40.3
4. Definitely impossible 30.5
5. No opinion/ do not know 4.6

18. Concerning armed attacks against Israeli soldiers in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, I.
1. Strongly support 51.0
2. Support 40.8
3. Oppose 5.2
4. Strongly oppose 0.8
5. No Opinion /Don't Know 2.2

19. Concerning armed attacks against Israeli civilians inside Israel, I.
1. Strongly support 23.1
2. Support 29.2
3. Oppose 40.8
4. Strongly oppose 4.7
5. No Opinion /Don't Know 2.3

20. Concerning armed attacks against Israeli settlers in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, I.
1. Strongly support 53.2
2. Support 38.0
3. Oppose 6.3
4. Strongly oppose 0.4
5. No Opinion /Don't Know 2.1

21. Do you think that there is corruption in PA institutions?
1. Yes 84.9
2. No 6.5
3. No opinion/ Don't Know 8.6

22. Will this corruption in PA institutions increase, decrease or remain as it is in the future?
1. Increase 46.1
2. Remain as it is 11.9
3. Decrease 28.7
4. Don't Know/ No Opinion 13.2

23. The new Palestinian finance minister says that his ministry controls today all Palestinian revenues and expenditures. Do you believe that that this will lead to the elimination of financial corruption inside the Palestinian Authority?
1. Yes 29.8
2. No 57.3
3. Do not know /no opinion 12.9

24. Does the situation in the Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza force you to seek permanent emigration?
1) Yes 18.6
2) No 80.6
3) I don't know 0.8

25. If you want to evaluate the status of democracy and human rights under the Palestinian Authority, you would say it is:
1. Very Good 2.1
2. Good 14.2
3. Fair 27.0
4. Bad 31.1
5. Very Bad 21.4
6. Don't Know/ No Opinion 4.3

26. In your opinion, can people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip criticize the Palestinian Authority without fear?
1.Yes 57.3
2. No 39.3
3. Do not know 3.3

27. The Palestinian Authority announced its intention to hold general political elections for the president and the Legislative Council next January. Are you going to participate in those elections?
1. Yes 69.4
2. No 27.2
3. Do not know / no opinion 3.4

28. If separate elections for a Vice President of the Palestinian Authority were held today, whom would you choose?
1. Saeb Erikat 8.1
2. Hanan Ashrawi 4.3
3. Haidar Abdul Shafi 9.9
4. Ahmad Yassin 9.7
5. Farouq Kaddomi 6.3
6. Marwan Bargouthi 23.3
7. Ahmad Qurai 1.0
8. Mahmoud Abbas 3.1
9. No one, will decide later 15.8
10. I will not participate 13.2
11. Others 2.1
12. No Opinion / Don't Know 3.1

29. If separate elections for the president of the Palestinian Authority were held today, whom would you choose?
1. Haidar Abdul Shafi 12.7
2.Yasser Arafat 33.8
3. Ahmad Yasin 14.5
4. No one 2.0
5. Others 20.5
6. I will not participate 13.7
7. No Opinion / Don't Know 2.8

30. Which of the following political parties do you support?
1. PPP 0.6
2. PFLP 3.3
3. Fateh 25.6
4. Hamas 19.8
5. DFLP 0.7
6. Islamic Jihad 3.6
7. Fida 0.1
8. Independent Islamists 3.2
9. Independent Nationalists 6.8
10. None of the above 32.7
11. Others 3.6



Results- PSR - Survey Research Unit: Public Opinion Poll # 5 Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) Off Irsal street, P.O.Box 76, Ramallah, Tel: +972-2-2964933
Fax:+972-2-2964934
email: [email protected] http://www.pcpsr.org