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

Results of Palestinian Public Opinion Poll

No. 37

1-2 February

Background

By the end of the truce period that was announced between Israel and Hamas through Egyptian mediation, Israel launched an unprecedented attack on Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip that targeted animate and inanimate objects bequeathing huge destruction the results of which will continue for years to come.

No sooner had the aggression against Gaza ceased, than the talk about rebuilding Gaza began; the rebuilding of Gaza became another point of controversy added to the letters of Palestinian internal split. The Palestinian split did not end with the destruction of Gaza despite talks about a Palestinian-Palestinian debate; split is susceptible to be intensified as the declarations made by some Palestinian officials indicate. The Palestinian question, thus, is totally driven into the maze of Arab and regional differences and the Palestinian decision making process is no longer purely and genuinely Palestinian.

On the other side of the Gaza issue, several Arab and foreign countries are paying tremendous efforts to restore truce to the Gaza Strip based on new conditions. Hamas insists on opening Rafah crossing first to be followed be opening the other crossings. Israel rejects Hamas’ demands with reference to the crossings. Israel insists on freeing prisoner of war Gilad Shalit as a precondition to discuss the other issues though the Egyptian mediation.

The Results

Following are the results of the Palestinian Public Opinion Poll no. 37 conducted by the Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies at An-Najah National University during the period from 1-2 February 2009. The University sponsors all polls conducted by its Center.

Palestinian Public Opinion Poll no. 37 undertakes the current political realities including the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and its consequences, aids allocated for the rebuilding of the Strip, attempts towards achieving a Palestinian national reconciliation, attempts to restore truce between Israel and Hamas, the possibility of sending Arab and international troops to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in addition to political affiliations and other issues

The sample included 1361 persons whose age group is 18 and above and who have the right to vote. The enclosed questionnaire was distributed on 861 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 4.1% of the members of the sample refused to answer the questionnaire.

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The opinions represented in the results reflect those of the study; they do not, by any means, represent the opinion of An-Najah National University.

The General Results:

• 28.6 % of respondents considered the war waged on the Gaza Strip by Israel a reaction to the firing of rockets from the Strip; 69.1% rejected.
• 39.9% of respondents supported military operations by Palestinian resistance factions even after agreeing on a truce.
• 71.1% of respondents believed that the PLO factions participated in resistance during the war on Gaza.
• 57.7% of respondents believed that the war on Gaza strengthened Hamas movement inside the West Bank.
• The top priorities of respondents at the present time were as follows:

- Achieving a national reconciliation52.6%

- Rebuilding Gaza 34%

- Improving the economic conditions 12%

• 27.9% of respondents believed that the aids secured up to the present time are enough to rebuild the Gaza Strip.
• As to whom the funds for rebuilding the Gaza Strip should be given, 19.8% said that the Palestinian Authority should be in charge of these funds, 18.1% said Hamas, 22.3% said a national committee from all Palestinian factions, and 21.1% said the UNRWA should be in charge.
• 45.8% of respondents believed that the aids given to the Gaza Strip are being distributed with factional biases.
• 34.9% of respondents believed that aids to the Gaza Strip reach the people who deservedly  need them.
• As for the best side which should be entrusted with rebuilding the Gaza Strip, 35.5% of respondents said it should be local companies, 20.6%said it should be Arab companies and 26.3% said it should be multinational companies.
• 67.4% of respondents considered the reaction of the Arab publics to the war on the Gaza Strip measured up to the level of the catastrophe.
• 69.3% from among respondents considered the reaction of the Islamic publics to the war on the Gaza Strip measured up to the level of the catastrophe.
• 63% of respondents considered the reaction of the International publics to the war on the Gaza Strip measured up to the level of the catastrophe.
• 47.5% of respondents believed that after the war on Gaza there is a genuine desire among the concerned parties to end the current Palestinian division.
• 54.4% of respondents believed that after the war on Gaza, the Palestinian leaderships ( Fateh, Hamas, Jihad, the left---etc.) are capable of ending the current Palestinian division.
• 23.7% of respondents said that those who hinder the Palestinian dialogue are persons from Hamas and Fateh; 15.7 % said it is Hamas movement; 10.9% said it is Fateh movement.
• 60% of respondents believed that after the war on Gaza the Palestinian public is ready to support a national reconciliation.
• 54.4% of respondents believed that Fateh movement is concerned with a national reconciliation on the bases of the top national Palestinian interests.
• 48.6% of respondents believed that Hamas movement is concerned with a national reconciliation on the bases of the top national Palestinian interests.
• 48.9% of respondents believed that Fateh movement participated in widening the internal Palestinian rift.
• 62.8% of respondents believed that Hamas movement participated in widening the internal Palestinian rift.
• 56.9% of respondents believed that the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip increased the possibility of the separation of the Gaza Strip from the West Bank.
• 24% of respondents believed that the new American administration under Obama is serious in its endeavors to achieve peace in the Middle East.
• 64.3% of respondents saw that Hamas should accept a truce for a year and a half.
• 20% of respondents saw that the suggested truce will hold for long in the future.
• 34.1% of respondents believed that Israel is the main beneficiary from a truce between Israel and Hamas; 17.1% said the beneficiary is Hamas and 43% said that the beneficiary is the citizens of the Gaza Strip.
• 31.6% of respondents believed that Hamas emerged victorious from the last war; 13.4 % said the victorious side is Israel.
• 51.7% of respondents supported allowing Arab troops to enter the Gaza Strip.
• 26.7% of respondents supported allowing Arab troops to enter the West Bank.
• 66.3% of respondents supported allowing international troops to enter the Gaza Strip.
• 21% of respondents supported allowing international troops to enter the West Bank.
• 68.3% of respondents assessed media coverage of the war on Gaza as “good”
• 82% of respondents supported the formation of a transitional government whose aim will be to prepare for and supervise Presidential and PLC elections.
• 79% of respondents said that they will participate in the coming presidential elections. From among those who said they will participate, 31.9% said that they will give their votes to Fateh's candidate; 23.5% said they will give their votes to Hamas' candidate.
• 79.4% of respondents said that they will participate in the coming legislative elections. From among those who said they will participate, 31.4% said that they will give their votes to Fateh's candidates; 24.6% said they will give their votes to Hamas' candidates.
• If PLC elections are to be conducted, 29.7% of respondents expected the winning of Fateh movement; 33.3% expected the winning of Hamas.
• 51.9% of respondents believed that there are horizons for a Palestinian National reconciliation.
• 50.7% of respondents believed that Hamas movement assaults Fateh activists in the Gaza Strip.
• 48.8% of respondents believed that the Palestinian Authority arrests Hamas activists in the West Bank.
• 55% of respondents expressed fear for their lives under the present circumstances.
• 59.3% of respondents said that they are pessimistic of the general Palestinian situation at this stage. 
• 53.9% of respondents said that they neither feel safe for themselves nor for their families and properties under the current circumstances.
• As for political affiliation respondents gave the following results:

The General Results of the Poll

 Do you think that the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip was a reaction to the firing of rockets from the Strip?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	28.6	20.7	42.2
No	69.1	77.5	54.8
No opinion/I do not know	2.3	1.9	3.0
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

 Do you support military operations by Palestinian resistance factions after reaching a truce agreement?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	39.9	41.5	37.2
No	57.4	56.2	59.4
No opinion/I do not know	2.7	2.3	3.4
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that the PLO factions participated in the resistance during the war on Gaza?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	71.1	71.3	70.8
No	21.5	21.3	22.0
No opinion/I do not know	7.3	7.4	7.2
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that the war on Gaza strengthened Hamas in the West Bank?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	57.7	67.0	41.6
No	32.6	26.7	42.8
No opinion/I do not know	9.7	6.3	15.6
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

 What are your priorities at the present time?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
National reconciliation	52.6	54.9	48.6
Rebuilding Gaza	34.0	32.9	36.0
Improving the economic situation	12.0	11.8	12.2
Others	1.4	0.3	3.2
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that funds secured so far for rebuilding the Gaza Strip are enough?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	27.9	30.3	23.8
No	60.4	57.3	65.8
No opinion/I do not know	11.7	12.4	10.4
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

In your opinion to whom raised funds to rebuild the Gaza Strip should be given?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
To the Palestinian Authority	19.8	16.5	25.4
To Hamas movement	18.1	16.6	20.6
To a committee which consists of all factions	22.3	27.8	13.0
To an independent national committee	13.4	17.4	6.6
To the Arab League	2.9	2.1	4.4
To the UNRWA	21.1	16.6	28.8
Others	2.4	3.0	1.2
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that aids sent to Gaza are being distributed on a biased factional basis?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	45.8	39.3	57.0
No	40.5	45.9	31.2
No opinion/I do not know	13.7	14.9	11.8
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that aids in the Gaza Strip reach those who rightly deserve them?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	34.9	38.0	29.6
No	49.0	43.9	57.8
No opinion/I do not know	16.1	18.1	12.6
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Who in your opinion is best capable of rebuilding the Gaza Strip?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Local companies	35.5	36.7	33.4
Arab companies	20.6	21.0	20.0
Foreign companies	17.6	14.5	22.8
Multinational companies	26.3	27.8	23.8
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that the reaction of the Arab public measured up to the catastrophe in the Gaza Strip?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	67.4	69.8	63.2
No	28.7	28.1	29.6
No opinion/I do not know	4.0	2.1	7.2
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that the reaction of the Islamic public measured up to the catastrophe in the Gaza Strip?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	69.3	73.1	62.8
No	25.3	24.5	26.6
No opinion/I do not know	5.4	2.4	10.6
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that the reaction of the international public measured up to the catastrophe in the Gaza Strip?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	63.0	67.5	55.4
No	31.2	29.3	34.4
No opinion/I do not know	5.8	3.3	10.2
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

After the war on Gaza, do you think that there is a genuine desire among all concerned parties to end the current Palestinian division?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	47.5	50.4	42.6
No	43.3	43.3	43.2
No opinion/I do not know	9.2	6.3	14.2
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

After the war on Gaza, do you think that the Palestinian leaderships (Fateh, Hamas, Jihad, the Left ---etc.) are capable of ending the current Palestinian division?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	54.4	56.3	51.0
No	38.8	39.3	38.0
No opinion/I do not know	6.8	4.4	11.0
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

In your opinion, who stands as an obstacle before a Palestinian dialogue?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Personalities from Fateh and Hamas movements	23.7	23.7	23.8
Hamas movement	15.7	7.9	29.2
Fateh movement	10.9	8.9	14.4
Arab interventions	13.5	15.0	11.0
Foreign interventions	8.2	9.5	6.0
Israel	20.8	26.9	10.2
No opinion/I do not know	7.1	8.0	5.4
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

After the war on Gaza, do you think that the Palestinian public is ready to lead a national reconciliation to a success?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	60.0	62.3	56.0
No	34.4	34.0	35.0
No opinion/I do not know	5.7	3.7	9.0
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that Fateh is concerned with a national reconciliation on the bases of the top national interests of the Palestinian people?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	54.4	51.9	58.6
No	37.9	41.0	32.6
No opinion/I do not know	7.7	7.1	8.8
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that Hamas is concerned with a national reconciliation on the bases of the top national interests of the Palestinian people?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	48.6	54.7	38.0
No	42.8	37.9	51.2
No opinion/I do not know	8.7	7.4	10.8
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that Fateh contributed to the widening of the Palestinian internal rift?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	48.9	54.0	40.2
No	41.7	37.5	48.8
No opinion/I do not know	9.4	8.5	11.0
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that Hamas contributed to the widening of the Palestinian internal rift?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	62.8	59.2	69.0
No	28.5	33.6	19.8
No opinion/I do not know	8.7	7.2	11.2
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip increased the possibility of the separation of the Gaza Strip from the West Bank?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	56.9	58.3	54.6
No	37.3	37.4	37.2
No opinion/I do not know	5.7	4.3	8.2
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that the new US administration under Obama is serious in its endeavors to achieve peace in the Middle East?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	24.0	23.2	25.2
No	62.5	65.5	57.4
No opinion/I do not know	13.5	11.3	17.4
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that Hamas should accept a truce for one year and a half?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	64.3	64.3	64.2
No	27.6	29.3	24.6
No opinion/I do not know	8.2	6.4	11.2
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that the suggested truce will hold for long in the future?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	20.0	19.6	20.6
No	68.7	71.0	64.8
No opinion/I do not know	11.3	9.4	14.6
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Who is the biggest beneficiary from a truce between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Israel	34.1	36.1	30.6
Hamas	17.1	11.1	27.4
Citizens in the Gaza Strip?	43.0	46.7	36.6
No opinion/I do not know	5.8	6.0	5.4
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

In your opinion, who emerged victorious in the last war on the Gaza Strip?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Israel	13.4	8.9	21.2
Hamas	31.6	34.6	26.4
The Palestinian factions	23.1	25.7	18.6
No one	29.6	28.1	32.2
No opinion/I do not know	2.3	2.7	1.6
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you support or reject the entrance of Arab forces to the Gaza Strip?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
I support	51.7	52.3	50.6
I reject	44.9	46.2	42.6
No opinion/I do not know	3.5	1.5	6.8
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you support or reject the entrance of Arab forces to the West Bank?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
I support	26.7	23.9	31.4
I reject	69.4	74.3	60.8
No opinion/I do not know	4.0	1.7	7.8
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you support or reject the entrance of international forces to the Gaza Strip?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
I support	66.3	66.1	66.6
I reject	31.2	32.5	28.8
No opinion/I do not know	2.6	1.4	4.6
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you support or reject the entrance of international forces to the West Bank?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
I support	31.0	17.2	27.6
I reject	75.2	81.4	64.4
No opinion/I do not know	3.8	1.4	8.0
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

How do you assess media coverage of the war on the Gaza Strip?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Good	68.3	71.5	62.8
Fair	21.9	20.6	24.2
Bad	8.2	6.5	11.2
No opinion/I do not know	1.5	1.4	1.8
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Are you in favor of forming a transitional government for the purpose of preparing for and supervising new presidential and PLC elections?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	82.0	83.3	79.8
No	13.7	12.4	15.8
No opinion/I do not know	4.3	4.3	4.4
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

If presidential elections are held in the present time, to whom from among the following do you give your vote?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
An independent candidate	5.2	5.2	5.2
A candidate from the left	3.5	2.6	5.0
A candidate from Hamas	18.6	17.0	21.4
A candidate from Fateh	25.2	18.8	36.2
A national independent candidate	6.0	7.7	3.2
An Islamic independent candidate	3.5	3.5	3.4
I will not participate in the elections	21.0	23.8	16.2
I have not decided yet	17.0	21.5	9.4
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

If new PLC elections are conducted, whom do you vote for?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
An independent ticket	5.4	6.2	4.0
A ticket from the left	3.2	2.3	4.8
A ticket from Hamas	19.5	18.0	22.2
A ticket from Fateh	24.9	18.7	35.6
A national independent ticket	6.5	7.3	5.0
An Islamic independent ticket	3.6	3.6	3.6
I will not participate in the elections	20.6	23.2	16.2
I have not decided yet	16.2	20.7	8.6
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

If new legislative elections were to be held today, which of the following would win?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Independent Islamists bloc	4.8	5.0	4.6
Independent Nationalist bloc	6.9	7.8	5.4
Fateh bloc	29.7	24.9	38.0
Hamas bloc	33.3	38.9	23.6
A bloc from leftist organizations	2.0	1.5	2.8
No opinion/I do not know	23.3	22.0	25.6
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Do you think that there are horizons for national reconciliation?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	51.9	57.8	41.8
No	39.8	37.7	43.4
No opinion/I do not know	8.2	4.4	14.8
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

There are those who say that Hamas is belligerent towards Fateh activists in the Gaza Strip. Do you support or reject this allegation?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	50.7	45.4	59.8
No	35.9	40.3	28.2
No opinion/I do not know	13.4	14.3	12.0
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

There are those who say that the Palestinian Authority arrests Hamas activists in the West Bank. Do you support or reject this allegation?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	48.8	49.6	48.3
No	35.7	33.6	36.9
No opinion/I do not know	15.5	16.8	14.8
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Are you worried about your life under the present circumstances?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	55.0	47.0	68.8
No	43.9	52.5	29.0
No opinion/I do not know	1.1	0.5	2.2
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Are you pessimistic or optimistic towards the general Palestinian situation at this stage?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Optimistic	37.1	37.7	36.0
Pessimistic	59.3	59.2	59.4
No opinion/I do not know	3.6	3.0	4.6
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

Under the present circumstances, do you feel that you, your family and your properties are safe?

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	16.8	17.7	15.2
May be	28.9	30.8	25.8
No	53.9	51.6	57.8
No opinion/I do not know	0.4	0.0	1.2
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0

 Which of the following political affiliations do you support?