Results of Palestinian Public Opinion Polls
No. 6
May 13-15, 2004

Background

Despite the fact that the Likud Party voted against the implementation of the Unilateral Disengagement Plan, The US Administration declared that it still supports it. The US President pronounced his support to the plan; he even add to his support his conviction that Israel has the right to keep hold of settlement blocks in the West Bank and that there is no possibility of a return of Palestinian refugees to the State of Israel. This American support of Israel coincided with Israel’s assassination of the spiritual leader of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and the successive assassination of Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Rantisi who succeeded Yassin in leading Hamas.
The Palestinian Leadership announced through more than one official that the Disengagement Plan must be implemented in co-ordination with the Palestinian State. Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza Strip must be done as part of the Road Map. In a related context, the Palestinian factions held several meetings to study the possible ways of dealing with the situation after the Israeli pull out from Gaza Strip; these meetings have not come up with any result yet.
On another side of the Palestinian scene, Prime Minister Ahmad Qurai’ declared that the Palestinian leadership decided to “begin the local council and municipality elections at the beginning of next July and that elections should proceed on stages”. Qurai’ said that he will ask the US and the Quartet Committee to assign a date for conducting the coming legislative and presidential elections in the Palestinian territories.
* 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 sixth Public Opinion Poll conducted by the Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies at An-Najah National University during the period from 13-15 May, 2004. The University took full sponsorship of the whole poll.
The sixth poll undertakes several subjects, which focused basically on the Israeli Unilateral Disengagement Plan, the US position towards it and the reaction of the Palestinian public. The Poll also addresses the performance of the Palestinian institutions, the legislative and local council elections, the political affiliation of Palestinian people and other issues.
The sample included 1371 persons whose age group is 18 year 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 858 persons from the West Bank and 513 persons from Gaza Strip.
The sample was chosen randomly and the margin of error of the sample is about ±3%, however, 1.8% of the members of the sample, refused to answer the questionnaire.

The Major Results:

• 86.7% from among the respondents believe that it is not necessary any more for USA to remain as a broker in the on-going peace process between Palestinians and Israelis as a result of President Bush’s statement concerning the refugees and the settlements.
• 87.6% from among the respondents see that USA, after Bush’s declarations, is not conserned with the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with recognized 1967 borders.
• 94.1% from among the respondent’s assert that the US policy does not serve the cause of peace and security in the region.
• While 3.9% from among the respondents assess the support given to Palestinian struggle by Arab people as excellent, 59.3% assess it as poor.
• 29.2% from among the respondents assert that the assassination of Islamic political leaders will not affect the performance of their movements.
• 76.0% assert that the assassination of Islamic political leaders will not weaken the influence of these movements on the Palestinian public.
• 17.9% say that the Palestinian Authority will be