JMCC Public Opinion Poll No. 6 - Part I

On Palestinian Attitudes To Democracy

May 1995

in cooperation with MBC and

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

Methodology

A random sample of 1,069 Palestinians, over the age of 18 years, were interviewed face-to-face throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip on 5-6 May 1995. The interviews were conducted on randomly selected homes, and the subjects inside each home were also selected randomly according to Kish tables method

The Poll was conducted by JMCC in cooperation with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a political foundation affiliated with the Social Democratic Party in Germany, and the Middle East Broadcasting Corporation in London. It aimed to study concepts of democracy among Palestinians.

The major of error is plus or minus 4% with a confidence level of 95%.

Sample Distribution
Occupation respondents
  • Students 8.5%
  • Waged labourers 10..6%
  • Housewives 40%
  • Businessmen/private business 3.5%
  • Professionals - eg. doctors/lawyers/pharmacists/engineers 7.8%
  • Clerks 6.5%
  • Craftsmen 4.6%
  • Unemployed 10%
  • Retired 2%
  • Other 6.5%


    • Results

    Q.1 How do you rate your interest in political events and issues in general?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Very interested
    37.4% 
    34.2%
    44.0%
    Somewhat interested 
    44.5%
    46.2%
    41.1%
    Not at all interested
    16.8%
    18.3%
    14.1%
    No opinion
    1.2%
    1.4%
    0.9%

    Q.2 How optimistic are you about the future?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    		 Gaza Strip 
    Very optimistic
    21.7%
    20.1%
    25.5%
    Optimistic
    51.8%
    53.3%
    48.4%
    Not optimistic
    25.2%
    25.3%
    24.9%
    No opinion 
    1.3%
    1.4%
    1.2%

    Q.3 Would you say you believe in democracy?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Yes (Q. 3-1)
    79.6%
    78.1%
    83.0%
    No (Q. 3-3)
    12.3%
    12.6%
    11.4%
    No opinion (Q. 3-2) 
    8.2%
    6.8%
    5.6%

    Q. 3-1What is democracy? (The question was asked only to those who said they believe in democracy)
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Rule of the people
    15.5% 
    13.9%
    18.5%
    Elections
    9.9% 
    9.6%
    10.8%
    Constitution & law superiority 
    4.0% 
    3.6%
    4.3%
    Pluralism
    3.6% 
    3.8%
    3.4%
    Human rights & minority protection 
    13.5%
    12.7%
    15.1%
    Rule of law
    1.1%
    1.3%
    0.6%
    Equality before law
    10.9%
    9.1%
    14.5%
    Freedom to all
    8.9%
    9.2%
    8.4%
    Freedom of expression
    16.1%
    17.5%
    13.1%
    Division of responsibility
    0.4%
    0.5%
    0.3%
    Consultation
    1.1%
    1.3%
    0.6%
    More than one thing
    0.8%
    0.8%
    0.6%
    Individual Freedom
    7.1%
    8.6%
    4.0%
    Love, understanding devotion
    1.8%
    2.0%
    1.3%
    No answer
    5.3%
    6.1%
    3.7%

    Q. 3-2 Some consider democracy as "rule of the people through free elections resulting in government that respects the law and constitution". Do you agree? (The question was asked to those who did not give their opinion regarding their belief in democracy)
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Yes
    62.1%
    59.1%
    75.0%
    No
    8.0%
    7.6%
    10.0%
    No opinion 
    29.9% 
    33.3%
    15.0%

    Q.3-3 If your answer was "I do not believe in democracy" what do you consider yourself then?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Islam & religion 
    30.6%
    28.6%
    35.4%
    Regular person
    13.6%
    17.3%
    6.2%
    Democracy does not exist 
    10.9%
    10.2%
    12.5%
    Believe in the right thing
    6.8%
    6.1%
    8.3%
    Our people do not deserve democracy 
    2.0%
    1.0%
    2.1%
    No opinion
    36.1% 
    36.7%
    35.4%

    Q.4 What in your opinion is the best political system?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Proportional representation 
    26.2%
    24.6%
    29.6%
    Two-party system
    2.9%
    2.1%
    4.7%
    One party
    16.3%
    16.3%
    16.1%
    Islamic system
    40.0%
    42.0%
    35.6%
    No opinion 
    14.6%
    14.3%
    14.1%

    Q.5 Which countries in the world you would say functions according to an Islamic system?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    No country
    49.1%
    52.8%
    41.3%
    Saudi Arabia
    13.6%
    11.2%
    18.5%
    Arab countries
    4.1%
    3.6%
    5.3%
    Palestine
    0.2%
    2.5%
    1.8%
    Iran & Afghanistan 
    13.1%
    0.3%
    12.3%
    Sudan
    5.9%
    13.6%
    8.8%
    Iraq
    1.0%
    4.4%
    0.9%
    Pakistan
    2.8%
    1.1%
    2.1%
    Chechnya
    0.1%
    3.2%
    0.3%
    Malaysia
    0.3%
    0.3%
    0.3%
    A group of countries 
    2.6%
    1.7%
    4.7%
    No opinion
    5.0%
    5.4%
    3.8%

    Q.6 Does the government have the right to intervene in:

    Freedom of expression
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    		 Gaza Strip 
    All the time 
    11.7%
    10.8%
    13.8%
    Sometimes
    44.8%
    43.4%
    37.8%
    No intervention 
    39.7%
    42.2%
    34.3%
    No opinion
    3.8%
    3.6%
    4.1%

    Freedom of assembly
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    		 Gaza Strip 
    All the time 
    17.5%
    16.3%
    20.2%
    Sometimes
    50.5%
    50.1%
    51.3%
    No intervention 
    26.2%
    28.1%
    22.3%
    No opinion
    5.8%
    5.5%
    6.2%

    Freedom of religion
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    		 Gaza Strip 
    All the time 
    12.0%
    11.8%
    12.6%
    Sometimes
    13.9%
    13.0%
    16.1%
    No intervention 
    70.1%
    70.8%
    68.0%
    No opinion
    3.9%
    4.4%
    3.2%

    Freedom of Party formation
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    		 Gaza Strip 
    All the time 
    24.0%
    24.8%
    22.9%
    Sometimes
    33.9%
    31.8%
    38.1%
    No intervention 
    32.1%
    33.6%
    28.7%
    No opinion
    10.0%
    9.8%
    10.3%

    Individual rights
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    		 Gaza Strip 
    All the time 
    10.0%
    9.0%
    12.3%
    Sometimes
    28.0%
    27.2%
    29.6%
    No intervention 
    53.8%
    55.9%
    49.6%
    No opinion
    8.2%
    7.9%
    8.5%

    Opposition
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    		 Gaza Strip 
    All the time 
    15.0%
    14.7%
    15.8%
    Sometimes
    38.4%
    38.7%
    38.1%
    No intervention 
    29.2%
    29.5%
    28.4%
    No opinion
    17.4%
    17.1%
    17.6%

    Q.6-1 Why do you say so? (This question was asked to those who said that the government has the right to interfere in individual rights).
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Public benefit
    23.9%
    23.5%
    24.4%
    Not everyone behaves in the right manner 
    15.8%
    15.2%
    17.1%
    To protect individual rights
    18.3%
    18.1%
    20.1%
    To prevent crime and maintain order
    7.5%
    7.0%
    8.5%
    Because individual rights contravene with Islamic concepts
    4.0%
    5.1%
    1.8%
    Because it is one of its responsibilities
    7.3%
    6.0%
    9.7%
    No opinion
    23.3%
    25.1%
    18.4%

    Q.6-2 Why do you say so? (This question was asked to those who said that the government has the right to interefere with the opposition)
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Public benefit
    9.3%
    8.9%
    10.1%
    Has the right to interfere
    9.3% 
    9.6%
    8.8%
    To solve problems
    12.8% 
    15.0%
    8.4%
    To protect opposition
    0.7% 
    1.1%
    0.0%
    Interferes without using arms
    0.9%
    1.3%
    0.0%
    Because opposition is not always right 
    16.8%
    17.9%
    14.5%
    To attract the opposition
    1.3%
    1.8%
    0.4%
    Opposition is a watchdog
    2.8%
    2.9%
    2.6%
    To prevent violence
    20.8%
    18.1%
    26.0%
    For the continuation of peace
    0.7%
    0.9%
    0.4%
    Because opposition wil take the role of the government
    0.6%
    0.7%
    0.4%
    Interfering gradually only
    0.3%
    0.2%
    0.4%
    No opinion
    23.6%
    21.5%
    27.9%

    Q.6-3 If the government was an elected one, would you insist that it should not interfere at all?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Yes
    51.7%
    52.7%
    49.4%
    No
    30.3%
    29.5%
    32.0%
    No opinion 
    18.0% 
    17.8%
    18.7%

    Q.7 Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

    Total
     
    Agree
    Disagree 
    No opinion 
    There are some situation in which the Palestinian Authority is justified in breaking the constitution to protect national interests
    75.5% 
    19.3%
    5.0%
    Using violence or the threat of violence by the elected authority as a political tool is never justified
    73.5% 
    23.5%
    3.0%
    Using violence or the threat of violence by the opposition as a political tool is never justified
    78.5% 
    16.4%
    5.1%
    Rights of the individuals should be determined by their adherence to the law
    87.3% 
    7.4%
    5.3%
    Rights of the opposition should be determined by their adherence to the law
    80.2%
    12.4%
    7.4%
    There is too much attention for rights and little for law and order
    48.4%
    42.0%
    9.6%
    Establishment of political parties should be always guaranteed to everyone
    64.8%
    27.9%
    7.3%
    Elections may be suspended if the majority decided so
    63.7%
    30.2%
    6.1%
    There should be total separation between the authorities of the President, Parliament, and judiciary
    56.4%
    34.2%
    9.4%
    The Parliament should be the highest authority in the state
    66.1%
    24.2%
    9.7%
    Parliament should be above the judiciary and courts
    43.0%
    45.1%
    11.8%
    The legislative authority should be above the law
    36.2%
    54.1%
    9.7%
    The authority of the President and the executive body should be above Parliament
    32.0%
    58.4%
    9.6%
    Judiciary must be independent
    73.2%
    20.9%
    5.9%
    The president may be impeached by parliament
    68.8%
    22.9%
    8.3%

    West Bank
     
    Agree
    Disagree 
    No opinion 
    There are some situation in which the Palestinian Authority is justified in breaking the constitution to protect national interests
    75.4% 
    19.6%
    5.0%
    Using violence or the threat of violence by the elected authority as a political tool is never justified
    73.2% 
    23.8%
    3.0%
    Using violence or the threat of violence by the opposition as a political tool is never justified
    78.1% 
    16.5%
    5.4%
    Rights of the individuals should be determined by their adherence to the law
    87.3% 
    7.1%
    5.6%
    Rights of the opposition should be determined by their adherence to the law
    79.8%
    12.6%
    7.6%
    There is too much attention for rights and little for law and order
    49.3%
    39.6%
    10.9%
    Establishment of political parties should be always guaranteed to everyone
    65.1%
    26.4%
    8.5%
    Elections may be suspended if the majority decided so
    62.7%
    30.6%
    6.8%
    There should be total separation between the authorities of the President, Parliament, and judiciary
    57.5%
    33.1%
    9.4%
    The Parliament should be the highest authority in the state
    66.9%
    23.1%
    10.0%
    Parliament should be above the judiciary and courts
    44.0%
    43.7%
    12.3%
    The legislative authority should be above the law
    36.0%
    54.1%
    9.9%
    The authority of the President and the executive body should be above Parliament
    32.2%
    58.5%
    9.3%
    Judiciary must be independent
    75.9%
    16.9%
    7.2%
    The president may be impeached by parliament
    71.1%
    19.8%
    9.1%

    Gaza Strip
     
    Agree
    Disagree 
    No opinion 
    There are some situation in which the Palestinian Authority is justified in breaking the constitution to protect national interests
    76.2% 
    18.5%
    5.3%
    Using violence or the threat of violence by the elected authority as a political tool is never justified
    74.8% 
    22.3%
    2.9%
    Using violence or the threat of violence by the opposition as a political tool is never justified
    79.2% 
    16.1%
    4.7%
    Rights of the individuals should be determined by their adherence to the law
    87.4% 
    7.9%
    4.7%
    Rights of the opposition should be determined by their adherence to the law
    81.2%
    12.3%
    6.5%
    There is too much attention for rights and little for law and order
    46.0%
    47.2%
    6.8%
    Establishment of political parties should be always guaranteed to everyone
    63.9%
    31.4%
    4.7%
    Elections may be suspended if the majority decided so
    66.3%
    29.3%
    4.4%
    There should be total separation between the authorities of the President, Parliament, and judiciary
    44.3%
    37.0%
    8.8%
    The Parliament should be the highest authority in the state
    64.8%
    26.7%
    8.5%
    Parliament should be above the judiciary and courts
    41.1%
    48.1%
    10.8%
    The legislative authority should be above the law
    37.2%
    54.0%
    8.8%
    The authority of the President and the executive body should be above Parliament
    32.0%
    58.0%
    10.0%
    Judiciary must be independent
    68.0%
    29.4%
    2.6%
    The president may be impeached by parliament
    64.2%
    29.3%
    6.5%

    Q.8 What do you think of majority rule? Is it an:
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Absolute right 
    39.5%
    38.2%
    42.2%
    Conditional right 
    45.7%
    47.0%
    42.8%
    Other
    4.4% 
    4.3%
    4.7%
    No opinion
    10.5% 
    10.5%
    10.3%

    Q.9 What do you think of minority rights? Is it an:
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Absolute right 
    13.2%
    12.6%
    14.7%
    Conditional right 
    58.3%
    57.3%
    60.7%
    Other
    13.1% 
    13.6%
    12.0%
    No opinion
    15.4% 
    16.6%
    12.6%

    Q.10 What do you think of the opposition right? is it an:
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Absolute right 
    20.9%
    17.7%
    27.6%
    Conditional right 
    60.5%
    61.1%
    59.8%
    Other
    5.6% 
    6.5%
    3.5%
    No opinion
    13.0% 
    14.7%
    9.1%

    Q.11 What do you think of the authorities of the President? Is it :
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Absolute right 
    23.0%
    22.3%
    24.9%
    Conditional right 
    67.2%
    67.5%
    66.6%
    Other
    2.2% 
    2.6%
    1.5%
    No opinion
    7.6% 
    7.6%
    7.0%

    Q.12 The State Security Court is a military court established by the Palestinian Authority to try those whom it accuses of infringing on national security. Would you support the trying of people from the opposition in the court?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Support
    49.2%
    52.0%
    43.4%
    Oppose
    42.4%
    38.9%
    49.9%
    No opinion 
    8.1% 
    9.2%
    6.7%

    Q.12-1 Would you support the trying of people who are accused of infringing national security to the State Security Court?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Support
    57.5%
    54.3%
    65.6%
    Oppose
    21.8%
    20.0%
    25.5%
    No opinion 
    20.7%
    25.7%
    9.9%

    Q.13 Whom do you think is the best body for explaining the law?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Parliament
    39.1%
    39.1%
    39.6%
    President
    10.4%
    10.7%
    10.0%
    High court
    40.2%
    40.4%
    39.9%
    More than one
    0.9%
    1.2%
    0.3%
    Religion
    1.3%
    1.1%
    1.8%
    Experts
    0.6%
    0.4%
    0.9%
    No opinion
    7.5%
    7.1%
    7.6%

    Q.14 Whom of the following must apoint the judges?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    President
    12.5%
    12.0%
    13.8%
    Parliament
    26.8%
    26.7%
    27.3%
    Judges should be elected 
    52.5%
    52.3%
    53.1%
    President & Parliament
    0.7%
    0.8%
    0.3%
    High court
    0.9%
    1.4%
    0.0%
    Government 
    0.3%
    0.4%
    0.0%
    Independent body
    0.3%
    0.4%
    0.3%
    No opinion
    5.9%
    5.9%
    5.3%

    Q.15 Whom of the following must hold the president accountable?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Parliament
    36.9%
    37.1%
    36.7%
    Cabinet
    9.2%
    7.6%
    12.6%
    Courts of Law
    32.9%
    36.1%
    26.4%
    President above accountability 
    5.3%
    5.0%
    6.2%
    People
    5.1%
    4.6%
    6.2%
    More than one of the above
    1.8%
    1.9%
    1.5%
    God / Islam
    0.7%
    0.3%
    1.5%
    No opinion
    8.2%
    7.5%
    9.1%

    Q.16 Whom of the following must hold the cabinet accountable?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    President
    28.1%
    26.0%
    32.6%
    Law & Courts
    57.0%
    58.0%
    55.1%
    Parliament 
    4.9%
    5.9%
    2.6%
    People 
    2.5%
    2.5%
    2.6%
    More than one 
    0.8%
    0.8%
    0.9%
    No opinion
    6.8%
    6.8%
    6.2%

    Q.17 How important is the role of the following in supporting democratic rule?

    Total
     
    Important  Somewhat important  Not Important 
    No opinion 
    Elected high government officials 
    74.0% 
    17.1%
    2.8%
    6.1%
    Maintenance of the opposition rights 
    64.4%
    23.2%
    7.0%
    5.4%
    Constitutional restrictions on the government 
    64.6%
    18.5%
    7.5%
    9.4%
    Freedom and fair elections
    89.4%
    4.2%
    1.5%
    4.9%
    Equality before the law
    91.4%
    3.6%
    1.5%
    3.6%
    The opposition accepting the majority rule
    61.7%
    20.0%
    10.1%
    8.0%
    Freedom of NGO's work
    45.5%
    28.7%
    17.6%
    8.2%

    Gaza Strip
     
    Important 
    Somewhat Important 
    Not Important 
    No Opinion 
    Elected high government officials 
    73.9% 
    17.9%
    4.4%
    3.8%
    Maintenance of the opposition rights 
    67.7%
    21.7%
    6.7%
    3.8%
    Constitutional restrictions on the government 
    65.4%
    19.6%
    7.0%
    7.9%
    Freedom and fair elections
    89.1%
    5.6%
    1.8%
    3.5%
    Equality before the law
    91.2%
    4.4%
    1.2%
    3.2%
    The opposition accepting the majority rule
    65.1%
    19.1%
    9.7%
    6.2%
    Freedom of NGO's work
    41.3%
    31.7%
    20.8%
    6.2%

    West Bank
     
    Important 
    Somewhat Important 
    Not Important 
    No Opinion 
    Elected high government officials 
    74.1% 
    16.9%
    2.1%
    6.9%
    Maintenance of the opposition rights 
    62.9%
    24.1%
    7.1%
    5.9%
    Constitutional restrictions on the government 
    64.5%
    18.1%
    7.6%
    9.8%
    Freedom and fair elections
    89.9%
    3.6%
    1.2%
    5.3%
    Equality before the law
    91.7%
    3.2%
    1.7%
    3.5%
    The opposition accepting the majority rule
    60.2%
    20.1%
    10.4%
    8.8%
    Freedom of NGO's work
    47.4%
    27.5%
    16.0%
    9.1%

    Q.18 What is the importance of the NGO's such as Labour union, Women's organizations, Research centers, Human rights organizations, Medical organization... etc in serving the democratic society?

    Total
     
    Important 
    Somewhat important 
    Not Important 
    No opinion 
    Their role in supporting democratic is
    69.1% 
    19.8%
    4.4%
    6.6%
    Their role in monitoring state functions is
    52.7%
    24.8%
    16.5%
    6.1%
    Their role in represent the point of view of their representatives in front of the government is
    60.5%
    25.1%
    7.2%
    7.2%

    West Bank
     
    Important 
    Somewhat important 
    Not Important 
    No opinion 
    Their role in supporting democratic is
    68.9% 
    20.5%
    3.5%
    7.2%
    Their role in monitoring state functions is
    52.4%
    24.1%
    17.0%
    6.5%
    Their role in represent the point of view of their representatives in front of the government is
    61.3%
    23.9%
    7.1%
    7.7%

    Gaza Strip
     
    Important 
    Somewhat important 
    Not Important 
    No opinion 
    Their role in supporting democratic is
    70.4% 
    18.5%
    6.5%
    4.7%
    Their role in monitoring state functions is
    53.7%
    26.7%
    15.2%
    4.4%
    Their role in represent the point of view of their representatives in front of the government is
    59.8%
    27.6%
    7.3%
    5.3%

    Q.19 Do you think the NGO's should be independent from the government somewhat independent or relate to the Government?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Independent
    27.9%
    26.1%
    31.7%
    Somewhat independent 
    32.0%
    32.6%
    31.1%
    Relate to Government
    34.8%
    35.3%
    34.0%
    No opinion
    5.3%
    5.9%
    3.2%

    Q.20 In many countries governments may violate individual rights. What would you do if the government violates your individual rights?
     
    Total 
    West Bank 
    Gaza Strip 
    Go to court
    45.1%
    46.7%
    41.6%
    Complain
    26.3%
    25.9%
    27.6%
    I will not elect the party responsible for that 
    8.5%
    6.1%
    13.5%
    Go to human rights groups
    2.3%
    2.4%
    2.3%
    Pray to God
    3.6%
    4.1%
    2.6%
    Go to the Media
    0.3%
    0.3%
    0.3%
    Go to the highest authority
    0.7%
    1.0%
    0.3%
    Resist and revenge
    5.9%
    7.2%
    3.2%
    No opinion
    7.3%
    6.3%
    8.5%

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