The Jerusalem Media and Communication Center is the first institution in the Arab world to conduct public opinion surveys methodologically and continuously. The main aim of the JMCC with those regular opinion polls was to enhance public participation in the decision-making process by making the public's views available to decision-makers, and, also, to enable academics, researchers, and others to use scientifically collected data in their studies and policy projects.
The first public opinion poll in the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip was conducted by the JMCC in February 1993. Since then, over
seventy extensive surveys were conducted on issues, including those pertaining
to the peace process, democratization, international relations, economics,
political socialization, gender, political partisanship, the media, and
social issues.