JMCC - Poll No. 41, June 2001 - On Palestinian Attitudes Towards Politics including the Current Intifada

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Text

last updated Jan. 18, 2010
published June 1, 2001

Poll No. 41, June 2001 - On Palestinian Attitudes Towards Politics including the Current Intifada

Summary: Introduction

• This poll showed the continuation of popular support, 79 percent, for the intifada compared to 80.2 percent last April. In December 2000, support for the intifada was 70.1 percent.

• The majority of Palestinians, 54.4 percent, still continue to support both military and popular forms of the intifada. The percentage has decreased since the previous poll conducted in April, when support for both forms of the intifada was 62.3 percent. Palestinians who supported the continuation of only the popular forms of the intifada increased to 19.7 percent as opposed to 13.5 percent two months ago.

• The majority of Palestinians, 70.6 percent considered Palestinian military operations against Israeli targets a suitable response in the current circumstances, while only 19.8 percent opposed it and considered it disadvantageous for national interests. The results are similar to the December 2000 survey when this question was last asked.

• A significant number of Palestinians, 40.7 percent, supported the continuation of Palestinian armed operations within the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel at the same time. Those who only supported the continuation of these operations only within Israel reached 31.8 percent, while 3.6 percent said that they are with the continuation of these operations in the occupied territory only. Only 17.2 percent of those interviewed said they do not support the continuation of military operations.

• Support for suicide bombings continued as an adequate response during the current circumstances reaching 68.6 percent as opposed to 73.7 percent last April. It is worth noting that support for suicide bombings during March 1999 was only 26.1 percent, which was the last date this question was asked.

• A slight increase from 52 percent to 55.6 percent occurred amongst Palestinians believing that Palestinian interests demand the continuation of the intifada and negotiations at the same time. Those who support only the path of negotiations dropped from 21.1 percent in December 2000 to 11.5 percent in this survey.

• A large number of the Palestinian people, 45.6 percent, see that the aim of this intifada is to end the Israeli military occupation based on UN Security Council Resolution 242 and the establishment of a Palestinian state, while 41.2 percent of those interviewed said that the aim of the intifada is total liberation of Palestinian land and only 9.2 percent considered the intifada’s aim a tactic for improving the negotiation track conditions.

• Sixty-nine percent of Palestinians believe that the current circumstances necessitates establishing a Palestinian national unity while 18.6 percent prefer to keep the internal political situation as is.

• The majority of those surveyed, 67.1 percent did not approve ending the intifada in return to ending Jewish settlement. Only 25.1 percent of Palestinians said they approve ending the intifada in return to ending Jewish settlement.

• As for the public’s opinion on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat’s order to cease-fire, 52.3 percent strongly to somewhat supported this decision, while 44.2 strongly to somewhat opposed this decision. Those who support the cease-fire are more than those who oppose it.

• Palestinian opinion on discussions circulating only outside Palestine on Arafat’s control of the situation shows that 71.6 percent see the Palestinian president in total or somewhat control of the situation while only 25.8 percent say that he totally or somewhat not in control.

• There is an increase in the number of Palestinians who are dissatisfied with Arab solidarity with the intifada reaching 84.7 percent compared to 60.5 percent in December 2000.

• As for support of factions and politicians, Fateh Movement continued to gain the same trust of 34.9 percent of Palestinians as well as Hamas Movement remaining at 18.6 percent. Yasser Arafat continued to have the highest trust of all Palestinian political personalities although the trust went down to 27.8 percent from 32.3 percent in April 2001.

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