Background:

There has been a revival of local, national and international diplomatic activities since the inauguration of Mahmoud Abbas as the President of the Palestinian Authority to reactivate the Palestinian – Israeli negotiations. A summit was held at Sharm el-Sheikh in which Jordan and Egypt participated in addition to the Palestinian Authority, Israel and the USA. Following this summit there was the London conference which basically aimed at offering political and financial support to the new Palestinian leadership.
Diplomatic activities aside, Israel still delays withdrawal from Palestinian cities which had been agreed upon at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit, confiscates more of the Palestinian lands, continues to build the separation wall and continues the killing of Palestinian people and the incursions in Palestinian cities and villages.
On the other side of the Palestinian scene, the Palestinian government was formed after a long debate; it is the first government to be formed under the presidency of Mahmoud Abbas and the first government the majority of whose members are not members in the Legislative Council.
The Palestinian political arena still witnesses the consequences of the first stage of the local councils elections which were held in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Hamas and the clan coalitions reaped a good number of the seats in these councils. Hamas had announced earlier that it will participate in the coming legislative elections.
* 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 Results:

Following are the results of the Eleventh Palestinian Public Opinion Poll conducted by the Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies at An-Najah National University during the period from March 16 to 19, 2005. The University sponsors all polls conducted by its center.
The Eleventh Poll undertakes several subjects focusing on the Presidential elections, the priorities of individuals in the period following the elections, the elections programs of candidates, the people’s opinion in the peace process and the Road Map in addition to political sympathies and other issues.
The sample included 1361 persons whose age group is 18 years and above and who have the right to vote. The sample forms one per thousand from among the total number of Palestinian people of this age group. The enclosed questionnaire was distributed on 860 persons from the West Bank and 501 persons from the Gaza Strip. The sample was drawn randomly and the margin of error is about ±3%. Still 2.2% of the members of the sample refused to answer the questionnaire.

Major Results:

• 39.6% from among respondents believe that Mahmoud Abbas will fulfill his promises concerning reform and fighting corruption, and 40.4% believe that he will provide security for Palestinians.
• 44.4% believe that Mahmoud Abbas is capable of conducting comprehensive reform in the institutions of the Palestinian Authority.
• 37.5% believe that under the current situation, Mahmoud Abbas is capable of controlling the local security conditions.
• After two months in office as President of the Palestinian Authority 25.1% from among respondents feel that there is an improvement in personal security, 11.7% feel that there is an improvement in the economic situation, and 21.8% feel that there is some freedom in movement between cities.
• 81.1% from among respondents support the giving up of operations against Israeli targets by Palestinian factions since the Palestinian Authority announced reaching an agreement with these factions on a truce.
• 49% say that they are satisfied with the formation of the Palestinian government as it stands now.
• 25.5% from among respondents heard or read about the programs of the new Palestinian government.
• 31.8% from among respondents say that the new Palestinian government is capable