Background

Three Palestinian factions carried out a military operation against the Israeli soldiers in Karm Abu Salem near the Gaza Strip which resulted in taking an Israeli soldier as a prisoner of war and in killing another number of them. Following the operation Israel launched its military attacks on the Gaza Strip under the pretext of freeing the soldier. Several Arab and international parties tried to mediate in favor of freeing the Israeli soldier with no avail. The Palestinian factions holding the Israeli soldier avowed that they will not release their prisoner unless Israel agrees on a swap that would free, in return, Palestinian children, women and prisoners who spent a long term in the Israeli jails. Israel refused to negotiate and continued its aggression on the Gaza Strip and arrested a number of Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) members and ministers.
On the other side of the scene, Hezbullah announced taking two Israeli prisoners of war and demanded a swap with Lebanese, Arab, and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails; Israel rejected Hezbullah's initiative and waged war against Lebanon.
Under the above circumstances several Arab and international reactions were issued; some condemned Israel and others held Hezbullah responsible for the escalation that led to the present crisis. What is really noteworthy is what the secretary of the Arab League has said following the meeting of the Arab foreign ministers; the secretary announced the Middle East peace process dead and said that it has been decided that the case be referred to the United Nations.

The Results

Following are the results of the 22nd Palestinian Public Opinion Poll conducted by the Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies at An-Najah National University during the period from July 19 to 21, 2006. The University sponsors all polls conducted by its Center.
This poll undertakes the opinion of Palestinian public concerning the new political realities and particularly the war waged by Israel on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and the position of the Arab countries towards this crisis. In addition the poll evaluates the performance of Palestinian private and public institutions.
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The opinions represented in the results reflect those of the study; they do not represent by any means the opinion of An-Najah National University.

The sample included 1360 persons whose age group is 18 and above and who have the right to vote. The enclosed questionnaire was distributed on 800 persons from the West Bank and 500 persons from the Gaza Strip. The sample was drawn randomly and the margin of error is about ±3%; still 3.4% of the members of the sample refused to answer the questionnaire.

The General Results:

• 61.1% from among respondents are pessimistic towards the general Palestinian conditions at this stage.
• 87.7 % from among respondents do not feel safe neither for themselves nor for their families and properties under the present circumstances.
• 76% from among respondents say that their economic situation under the current circumstances is deteriorating.
• The positions of the following countries toward the Israeli attacks on Gaza is assessed as 'good' by respondents with the following percentages:
- 13.9% Egypt
- 9.2% Jordan
- 14% Arab countries
- 15.7% the European Union
- 4.6% the United States
- 25% Russia
- 48.4% Arab Nations
- 36.5% European Nations
• The treatment of the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip by the following Palestinian parties is assessed as 'good' with the indicated percentages:
- 64.4% the Palestinian Presidency
- 55.5% the Palestinian Government
• The positions of the following countries towards the Israeli attacks on Lebanon is assessed as 'good' by respondents with the following percentages:
- 12.1% Egypt
- 9% Saudi Arabia
- 9.2% Jordan
- % 69.3Syria
- 53.9% Arab nations