JMCC Public Opinion Poll No. 13

On Palestinian Elections, its fairness,

Women and the Palestinian National Charter

February 1996

in cooperation with

Jerusalem Centre for Women

Methodology

A random sample of 1,255 Palestinians, over the age of 18 years, were interviewed face-to-face throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip on 1and 2 February 1996. The interviews were conducted on randomly selected homes, and the subjects inside each home were also selected randomly according to Kish tables. The interviews were conducted in 64 sampling points chosen randomly according to population.

In the West Bank, 807 people were surveyed from the following areas: Bethlehem: Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Deiheishe Refugee Camp (RC), Al-'Ibeidieh, and Nahaleen; Hebron: Hebron, Yatta, Dura, Al-Fawwar RC, Al-Dahrieh, Beit Ummar, Al-Aroub (RC), Halhoul, Sa'ir, Shyoukh; Jerusalem: Jerusalem, al-'Izaria, al-Ram, Dahyat al Barid, Abu Dies, Shufat, Beit Hanina, Old City, Al-Tour, Jabal al-Mukaber. Jenin, Jenin, Jenin RC, Ya'bad, Yamoun, 'Aqba, al-Zababdeh, al-Shuhadah. Nablus Area: Nablus, Balta RC, Assira al-Shamalieh, Beita, Askar, Talouza, Beit Fureek, Ein Beit al-ma, Awarta, Kuful Haris, Sabastua, and Qabalan. Ramallah area: Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jalzon (RC), Jifna, Deir Dibwan, Beit Liqia, Arourah, Deir Ammar. Tulkarem and Qalqilia area: Tulkarem, Qalqilia, Tuklarem (RC), Salfit, Irtah, Bala', Beit Lied. Jericho area: Jericho.

In the Gaza Strip, 448 people were surveyed from: Gaza city, Deir al-Balah, Deir al-Balah RC, Nusseirat RC, Rafah, Jabalya, Jabalya a-Nazala, Jabalya RC, Khan Younis, Khan Youns RC, Nusseriat RC, Rafah, Shati RC, Burij RC, Maghazi RC, and 'Abasan.

The major of error is 3%, with a confidence level of 95%.

Sample Distribution
Results

Q.1 In general, what is the extent of your optimism towards the Palestinian future. Would you say you are very optimistic, somewhat optimistic, or pessimistic?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Optimistic
50.1% 
46.8%
56.0%
Somewhat optimistic 
34.1%
36.7%
29.5%
Pessimistic
13.6%
14.0%
12.9%
No opinion
2.2%
2.5%
1.6%

Q.2 To what extent would you say the election process was free and fair?
 
Total 
West Bank 
 Gaza Strip 
Changes to the better
42.4%
42.9%
41.5%
Changes to the worse
30.4%
29.0%
32.8%
Will not make any difference 
20.5%
20.6%
20.3%
No opinion
6.8%
4.6%
5.4%

Q.3 Are you optimistic about the performance of the elected council in the future?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Optimistic
30.5% 
27.5%
35.9%
Somewhat optimistic 
42.6%
42.8%
42.4%
Pessimistic
21.5%
23.8%
17.4%
No opinion
5.3%
5.9%
4.2%

Q. 4 Did the election results meet your expectations?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Met my expectations 
39.8% 
40.9%
37.7%
Somewhat met my expectations 
32.4%
29.2%
37.9%
Did not meet my expectations
21.0%
21.8%
19.6%
No opinion
6.9%
8.1%
4.7%

Q.5 Do you think that the elected counci members will comply with their election programs and platforms?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Will comply
16.8% 
14.0%
21.9%
Will comply to a certain extent 
43.3% 
40.5%
48.4%
Will not comply
22.9% 
25.2%
19.0%
No answer
16.9%
20.3%
10.7%

Q.6 In general, were you exposed to harassment while voting or while waiting to vote?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes, a lot
3.9%
3.3%
4.9%
Only a little 
11.1%
8.7%
15.4%
Not at all
70.6%
70.6%
70.5%
No opinion 
14.4%
17.3%
9.2%

Q.7 Do you know of any person who has received mony or gifts from candidates, their representatives, or parties in favor of voting from them?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes I know of this
14.1%
13.5%
15.2%
I have only heard about it, I am not certain 
29.6%
27.1%
32.9%
I did not hear anything like this
52.7%
54.6%
47.2%
No opinion
3.6%
4.7%
3.7%

Q.8 Given the election results, to what extent would you say that the elected members represent your point of view?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Represent my point of view
23.6%
20.1%
29.9%
Represent my point of view to a certain extent 
40.8%
39.2%
43.8%
Do not represent my point of view
23.9%
27.0%
18.3%
No opinion
11.7%
13.8%
8.0%

Q.9 I obtained information about the elections from?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Spouse
5.3%
5.0%
5.8%
Parent
0.9%
1.0%
0.7%
Sibling
1.1%
1.5%
0.4%
Radio
7.9%
10.8%
2.7%
TV
8.4%
5.6%
13.6%
Party
3.6%
4.2%
2.5%
Religious People
1.9%
2.1%
1.6%
Friends
4.5%
5.5%
2.7%
Newspapers
8.8%
8.6%
9.4%
Campaign publications 
6.5%
5.5%
8.3%
From family in general
10.4%
12.0%
7.6%
From the media in general 
27.2%
27.1%
27.2%
Many sources
12.3%
9.8%
16.7%
No opinion
1.3%
1.5%
0.9%

Q.10 Have you participated in any campaign rallies or meeting?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes
29.0%
28.9%
29.2%
No
68.7%
67.8%
70.3%
No opinion 
2.3%
3.3%
0.4%

Q.10-1 Where those rallies and meetings:
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Very helpful 
44.9%
42.9%
48.2%
Somewhat helpful 
43.8%
45.9%
40.1%
Not helpful
11.3%
11.2%
11.7%

Q. 10-2 Why did not you participate in such activities?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Couldn't participate in mixed meeting 
15.5%
11.1%
23.0%
Not interested
45.7%
43.9%
48.6%
Didn't know about them
14.4%
16.0%
11.7%
Other
24.3%
29.0%
16.7%

Q.11 What in your view is the position of the legislative council vis-a-vis the Palestinian people? Does it....
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Represents the entire people
23.7%
20.7%
29.2%
Represents only the Palestinians in the WB and GS 
19.1%
21.7%
14.5%
The council represents only the Palestinian people in the WB and GS while the PLO is the only representative for the Palestinian people everywhere
33.5%
34.2%
32.1%
Other
6.5%
8.6%
7.8%
No Opinion
17.2%
14.8%
16.3%

Q.12 Did you vote for a female candidate?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes
35.8%
28.5%
48.9%
No
56.9%
62.1%
47.5%
No answer 
7.3%
9.4%
3.6%

Q.12-1 Why didn't you vote for a female candidate?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
None were qualified 
46.2%
36.0%
69.9%
No female candidate in my constituency 
25.2%
34.8%
2.8%
I was pressured to vote for other candidates 
5.0%
6.4%
1.7%
Other
23.6%
22.8%
25.6%

Q.13 Do you believe in the importance of having women in the legislative council?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes
68.4%
72.6%
60.7%
No
16.8%
15.9%
18.5%
No opinion 
14.8%
11.5%
20.8%

Q.13-1 Why don't you believe in having women for the legislative council?
 
Total 
West Bank
Gaza Strip 
Men can represent women's needs 
37.1%
31.7%
45.2%
No difference betweem the needs of men and women 
10.0%
9.5%
10.7%
Not qualified for this position
30.0%
26.2%
35.7%
Other
22.9%
32.6%
8.4%

Q.14 Why do you think there is a need for women in the council?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Women need to demand their rights 
49.4%
47.1%
54.5%
Better for democracy
37.2%
37.5%
36.6%
Other
13.4%
15.4%
8.9%

Q.15 What is your opinion about the strike of female security prisoners? Do you support it, somewhat support it, or oppose it?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Support it
62.2%
61.7%
63.2%
Somewhat support it 
18.3%
17.3%
20.1%
Oppose it
13.0%
14.9%
9.6%
No opinion
6.5%
6.1%
7.1%

Q.16 Have you decided to vote for candidates without consulting anyone, or after taking the advice of others, or what?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Without consulting anyone 
60.6%
61.6%
58.9%
After taking advice of others 
23.7%
19.1%
31.9%
Others
7.0%
8.7%
4.0%
No opinion
8.7%
10.7%
5.1%

Q.17 Did you support Samiha Khalil's decision to run against Yasser Arafat?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes
33.5%
36.3%
28.6%
No
60.4%
56.4%
67.6%
No opinion 
6.1%
7.3%
3.8%

Q.17-1 Why do you support Samiha Khalil's decision?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
I support democracy 
53.3%
55.0%
49.2%
I share her apprehension about the peace process 
15.5%
10.0%
28.2%
I valued her experience
6.3%
6.9%
4.8%
I support the idea of a woman president
12.6%
14.2%
8.9%
Others
12.3%
13.9%
8.9%

Q.18 Do you think that there is a need to integrate personal status laws in the Palestinian Constitution?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes
48.4%
52.7%
40.8%
No
42.1%
37.2%
50.9%
No opinion 
9.5%
10.1%
8.3%

Q.18-1 If no, why do you oppose this?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Because Sharia' law is sufficient 
91.6%
94.4%
87.3%
These issues are not sufficiently important to be included in the constitution 
6.9%
4.2%
10.8%
Others
1.5%
1.4%
1.9%

Q.19 Do you think that women deserve a quota for representation in the council
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Support it
45.4%
48.0%
40.8%
Somewhat support it 
17.4%
15.1%
21.4%
Oppose it
22.0%
26.3%
14.3%
No opinion
15.2%
10.6%
23.4%

There is discussion nowadays on amending the Palestinian National Charter:

Q.20 Are you aware of the clauses to be repealed from the Palestinian National Charter?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
I know the clauses to be repealed 
42.4%
42.0%
43.1%
I do not know the clauses
49.5%
50.9%
46.9%
No opinion
8.1%
7.0%
10.0%

Q.21 Do you support the repealing or amending of some clauses from the Palestinian National Charter?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
I support amending the charter 
15.1%
16.0%
13.6%
I support it, but only under certain conditions 
31.6%
29.0%
36.2%
I oppose amending the charter 
25.6%
26.4%
24.1%
No opinion
27.7%
28.6%
26.1%

Q.22 In the transitional agreement signed between Israel and the PLO, Israel set conditions regarding the cancellation of clauses in the Palestinian National Charter that call for the destruction of Israel. Do you support or oppose the councils cancellation of these clauses or no, or do you think that these clauses should be repealed only if Israel approves the establishment of an independent Palestinian State?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
I support repealing the charter by the council 
6.3%
8.1%
3.1%
I don't support repealing the charter by the council
30.5%
27.9%
35.3%
I support repealing the charter by the council only in return for an independent Palestinian State
49.1%
49.1%
49.1%
No opinion
14.1%
15.0%
12.5%

Q.23 Which political or religious party do you trust most?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Fateh
39.2%
36.7%
43.8%
Hamas
11.5%
10.8%
12.7%
PFLP
2.7%
2.5%
3.1%
Islamic Jihad 
2.5%
2.0%
3.3%
NDC
0.2%
0.0%
0.9%
DFLP
0.6%
0.9%
0.2%
PPP
1.6%
2.4%
0.2%
Fida
0.7%
0.6%
0.9%
Other Islamic parties 
3.3%
3.2%
3.6%
Others
0.4%
0.1%
1.4%
I do not trust anyone
20.0%
22.1%
16.3%
No opinion
17.3%
18.7%
14.5%

Q.24 Which is the Palestinian personality that you trust most?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Arafat
36.3%
35.4%
37.7%
Ahmed Yassin
5.5%
5.1%
6.3%
George Habash
1.4%
1.4%
1.6%
Haidar Abdul Shafi 
7.8%
6.2%
10.7%
Faisal Husseni
2.1%
2.7%
0.9%
Hanan Ashrawi
4.1%
4.8%
2.7%
Do not trust anyone 
16.3%
17.3%
14.5%
Others
12.1%
12.4%
12.2%
No opinion
14.4%
14.7%
13.4%

Q.25 Did you vote in the elections?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes
82.5%
78.7%
89.5%
No
15.9%
19.1%
10.3%
No opinion 
1.5%
2.2%
0.2%

Q.25-1 Why didn't you participate?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
I did not register 
13.5%
13.2%
14.6%
Because I oppose the election 
51.4%
50.0%
56.1%
Others
35.1%
36.8%
29.3%

Q.26 If you oppose the elections, why?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Political prisoners
5.7%
5.5%
6.5%
Yahiya Ayash's assassination 
6.3%
3.1%
15.2%
Lack of credibility of the election 
14.4%
10.9%
23.9%
Parents/brothers would not allow it 
4.6%
4.7%
4.3%
For religious reasons 
14.9%
18.0%
6.5%
Fear of violence
2.3%
2.3%
2.2%
Political reasons
26.4%
27.3%
23.9%
Others
25.4%
28.2%
17.4%

[Back to Polls 1996]     [Go to Polls 1997]     [Back to Polls Page]