An-Najah National University
Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies
Tel: (972) (9) 2345113 Fax: (972)(9) 2345982
Nablus – Palestinian: P.O.Box 7, 707
Email: [email protected] [email protected]
Results of Palestinian Public Opinion Poll
No 25
22-24 January 2006

Background

President Mahmoud Abbas declared his intention to conduct early Presidential and Legislative elections after the wavering of the negotiations on the formation of a unity government. Prime Minister rejected the early elections dismissing the idea as an illegal move which is meant to bypass the people's choice. On the other side, the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) advised Abbas to dissolve the current Government since it is incapable of running Palestinian affairs.
In its attempt to uplift the international siege imposed on it, the Palestinian Government represented by the Prime Minister, ministers and PLC members paid visits to some Arab and Islamic countries.
The congestion between the Presidential Institutions and the Prime Minister is reflected violently on the Palestinian streets; some bloody confrontations took place between Fateh and Hamas, especially in the Gaza Strip.
Within the same frame, earnest efforts are currently paid to rescue the Palestinians from their crisis; some news leaked out on the possibility of reaching an agreement that would lead to the formation of a unity government and the distribution of the major portfolios between Fateh and Hamas.
In another positive development, the Government held a meeting with the Trade Union which led to putting an end to the four-month old strike of the employees of the public sector.
The Results
Following are the results of the 25th Palestinian Public Opinion Poll conducted by the Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies at An-Najah National University during the period from January 22-24, 2006. The University sponsors all polls conducted by its Center.
This poll undertakes Palestinian public opinions in the upcoming and current political circumstances, particularly the formation of a unity government, the priorities of the Palestinian citizens, what is expected from a unity government once it is formed, the attitudes of Palestinians towards forms and methods of resistance, and the assessment of the performance of Palestinian 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 860 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 2.5% of the members of the sample refused to answer the questionnaire.

The General Results:

• 66.4% of respondents were pessimistic towards the general Palestinian conditions at this stage.
• 86.9% of respondents did not feel safe neither for themselves nor for their families and properties under the present circumstances.
• 71.8% of respondents said that their economic situation under the current circumstances is deteriorating.
• 74.5% of respondents said that the local security conditions deteriorated.
• 20.6% of respondents said that the confrontations between Fateh and Hamas will gain momentum in the coming period.
• 50% of respondents believed that Fateh is really concerned with ending armed confrontations with Hamas.
• 47.1% of respondents believed that Hamas is really concerned with ending armed confrontations with Fateh.
• 53.5% of respondents believed that Palestinians have entered in a civil war after the armed confrontations between Fateh and Hamas.
• 52% of respondents supported Abas' call for early Presidential and Legislative elections if no compromise is re