Significant Opinion results
When Palestinians were asked to choose among the seven candidates running officially in the presidential elections, Fatah candidate Mahmoud Abbas stands out with 42.5% of the votes without any real challenge from the rest of the candidates. A ratio of 22.8 per cent said they will not vote for anyone while 13.6% of the Palestinians have not decided yet.
A majority of the Palestinians still support the continuation of the Aqsa Intifada in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but there is a general declining trend in this support.
The poll shows an increase in support to the popular characteristics of the current Intifada with decrease in support to the continuation of both its popular and military characteristics.
The poll shows Fatah Movement receiving the highest level of trust reaching 41.6% with Hamas Movement in second rank with only 20% support.
Palestinians are divided almost equally on the way the new Palestinian leadership is leading the PA affairs.
There is an increase in ratio of Palestinians who believe there will be a change in the political positions of the new Palestinian leadership after the death of President Arafat.
The poll shows a slight increase in level of optimism among the Palestinians regarding the future in general.
A ratio of 26.2% of Palestinians trust most Mahmoud Abbas; however, 25.4% of the Palestinians trust no one. When asked who is the most trusted figure to the lead the Palestinian people after the departure of President Arafat, a ratio of 36.7 per cent chose Mahmoud Abbas is the figure.
Peace Process:
There has been an ascending trend in optimism among the Palestinians regarding the future in general. The majority of Palestinians, 63.3 percent, feel optimistic or very optimistic regarding the future in general compared with 59.3 per cent at the beginning of this month and 45.3 percent last June. Meanwhile, 36.2 per cent feel pessimistic or very pessimistic compared with 40.2 per cent at the start of this month and 54.5 percent last June.
A majority, 63.1 percent, still supports the continuation of the Aqsa Intifada; however, there seems to be a stead declining trend in this support when compared with 69.7 per cent in June 2004, and as high as 76.8 per cent in October 2003.
The poll results show a major decrease in support to the continuation of both popular and military forms of the Intifada from 53 per cent in April 2003 to 35.8 per cent this month. A ratio of 31.8 per cent of the Palestinians supports the continuation of the popular characteristics of the Intifada compared with 23.7 per cent in April 2003 while those supporting the military characteristics of the Intifada rose from 11.2 per cent in April 2003 to 20.2 per cent this December.
Trust in Figures and Factions:
In JMCC open-ended trend question about the Palestinian figure they trust most, Mahmoud Abbas got the highest level of support, 26.2 per cent showing a slight increase when compared with 21.9 percent at the beginning of this month. Marwan Barghouthi ranked second with 9.8 per cent showing a decrease when compared with 15.0 percent in the poll conducted on December 8, 2004. a ratio of 25.4 per cent said they trust no one.
In JMCC open-ended trend question with regard to Palestinian factions, Fateh was considered the most trusted faction, 41.6 per cent.
The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas was chosen by 20.0 percent.
Political situation after the departure of President Arafat:
In an open ended question When asked about the Palestinian figure they trust most to lead the Palestinian people after the departure of President Arafat, the highest percentage, 36.7 percent, said they trust Mahmoud Abbas, compared with 27 percent at the beginning of this month. Marwan Barghouthi came in third place going down from 20.1 percent earlier this month to 8.9 per cent in this poll. And of those interviewed, 24.7 percent of the Palestinians said they trust nobody.
Most of the Palestinians , 67.0 percent, said they want to vote in the coming presidential elections. A ratio of 22.8 percent said they will not participate in the presidential elections. A ratio of 10.2 percent said they have not decided yet.
Concerning the impression of the Palestinian people about the way the Palestinian leadership is leading the PA affairs, 42.8 percent assessed the leadership performance as either very good or good; however, 46.6 per cent said the performance is either bad or very bad.
A majority of the Palestinians, 56.9 percent, said they expect a change in political positions of the new Palestinian leadership after President Arafat's departure, while 37.0 percent of the Palestinians said they expect the same positions with no changes.
To view the full results:
Poll no. 53 on Palestinian Attitudes Towards The Palestinian Political Issues
