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JMCC Public Opinion Poll No. 6 - Part Two
On Palestinian Attitudes To Democracy
May 1995

in cooperation with MBC and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung


Q.21 What about government violations of the rights of NGO's. If you were a member of one of the NGO's what would you do?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Go to court
40.8%
42.6%
37.0%
Complain and submit petitions
28.8%
26.1%
34.9%
I will not elect the party responsible body 
10.1%
8.9%
12.6%
Protect my rights
5.3%
6.4%
3.2%
Go to the media
0.8%
0.7%
1.2%
Go to the Parliament
0.3%
0.7%
0.3%
Go to the PLO
1.1%
0.3%
0.3%
Do Nothing
2.2%
1.5%
2.1%
No opinion
10.5%
13.5%
8.5%

Q.22 Do you think that the opposition should comply with the principles of democracy?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes
81.5%
81.5%
82.1%
No
10.1%
9.8%
10.9%
Somewhat
0.7%
1.1%
0.0%
No opinion 
7.7%
7.6%
7.0%

Q.23 What do you think is the role of the opposition?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
For public interest
11.4% 
12.3%
9.7%
To express different view points
10.0% 
10.2%
9.4%
To prevent the government from faling in mistakes 
16.3% 
14.8%
19.4%
Constructive role in government
10.7% 
9.4%
13.5%
To preserve freedom
2.7%
1.8%
4.7%
To protect individual rights
4.6%
5.7%
2.3%
An alternative to the peace process
1.5%
1.8%
0.9%
I am against the opposition
4.7%
5.3%
3.5%
To put an end to the peace process
5.1%
4.6%
6.5%
Has no role, must accept reality
2.6%
2.9%
2.1%
Islamic shoura
0.7%
0.4%
1.2%
To work within the law
7.5%
7.3%
7.9%
To compy with government decision
1.8%
1.5%
2.3%
Opposing the government is her right
2.7%
2.6%
2.9%
We should all be united
0.5%
0.4%
0.6%
To make the people aware
1.6%
0.1%
1.5%
No opinion
15.6%
17.2%
11.7%

Q.24 In your opinion, what are the responsibilities of the government towards the opposition?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Listen and direct opposition
7.1% 
7.1%
7.3%
Work according to law
6.0% 
6.4%
5.3%
Respect their opinions
43.3% 
40.5%
49.3%
Resist them
4.9% 
5.5%
3.5%
To attract them
2.1%
2.5%
1.2%
Guarantee their continuation
6.5%
7.6%
4.4%
Fulfill their demands
4.7%
4.6%
4.7%
Preserve freedom of expression
5.9%
4.7%
8.5%
Hold the opposition accountable
3.7%
3.7%
3.8%
To implement the law
0.5%
0.7%
0.0%
Stand against it in case of violence
0.9%
0.8%
1.2%
Calm the situation
0.5%
0.6%
0.3%
Depends on the opposition
0.6%
0.1%
1.5%
No opinion
13.4%
15.0%
9.1%

Q.25 Which of the following issues do you feel you need to know more about?

Total
 
Need information 
Do not need information 
No opinion 
Limitations on majority rule
66.2%
25.8%
8.0%
Responsibilities of decision makers 
70.3%
24.3%
5.4%
Rights and responsibilities of opposition 
63.2%
29.0%
7.8%
Role of NGO's
65.1%
27.0%
7.9%
Accountability
71.6%
21.9%
6.5%
Limitations on the powers of decision makers 
72.8%
19.1%
8.1%

West Bank
 
Need information 
Do not need information 
No opinion 
Limitations on majority rule
65.4%
25.3%
9.2%
Responsibilities of decision makers 
69.4%
24.8%
5.8%
Rights and responsibilities of opposition 
64.0%
27.4%
8.6%
Role of NGO's
63.8%
27.2%
9.0%
Accountability
70.1%
22.7%
7.2%
Limitations on the powers of decision makers 
71.2%
19.2%
9.6%

Gaza Strip
 
Need information 
Do not need information 
No opinion 
Limitations on majority rule
68.6%
27.0%
4.4%
Responsibilities of decision makers 
72.7%
23.5%
3.8%
Rights and responsibilities of opposition 
62.2%
32.6%
5.3%
Role of NGO's
68.3%
27.0%
4.7%
Accountability
75.4%
20.2%
4.4%
Limitations on the powers of decision makers 
76.5%
19.1%
4.4%

Q.26 How many times do you listen to the news daily?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
None
6.2%
6.2%
5.9%
Once
21.4%
20.6%
23.2%
Twice
27.4%
26.8%
28.4%
Three times
17.9%
15.9%
22.3%
Four times
12.9%
14.0%
10.9%
Five+
13.1%
15.9%
7.3%
No opinion
1.1%
0.6%
2.1%

Q.27 How many times do you read the newspaper a week?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
None
28.0%
26.8%
29.9%
Once
17.9%
16.7%
20.2%
Twice
10.0%
9.7%
10.9%
Three times
10.5%
10.7%
10.3%
Four times
6.4%
6.1%
7.9%
Five times
4.3%
4.4%
4.1%
Six times
2.2%
2.2%
2.1%
Seven times 
19.8%
23.0%
13.5%
No opinion
1.0%
0.4%
2.1%

Q.28 I will list some sources that can provide information on democracy and autonomy in general. Who do you trust as a source of information:

Total
 
I trust
Depends 
Don't trust 
No opinion 
Local leaders
23.3% 
28.3%
38.8%
9.6%
Religious Leaders
45.4% 
29.5%
18.6%
6.5%
Political movements
21.4% 
32.8%
36.4%
9.4%
Family & Friends
57.9% 
27.6%
10.2%
4.2%
NGO's
23.8%
30.2%
36.4%
9.6%
Women's organizations
29.9%
27.0%
32.4%
10.7%
Research centre
58.0%
23.8%
9.8%
8.4%
Schools & colleges
72.0%
17.5%
6.6%
3.8%
Foreign experts
22.6%
25.4%
44.5%
7.5%
Palestinian National Authority 
51.1%
23.5%
18.1%
7.3%
Prisoners
53.6%
29.8%
9.2%
7.3%
UNRWA
41.4%
27.2%
21.1%
10.1%
Returnees
41.8%
32.4%
18.2%
7.6%

West Bank
 
I trust
Depends 
Don't trust 
No opinion 
Local leaders
19.8% 
29.9%
40.5%
9.7%
Religious Leaders
42.2% 
30.4%
20.7%
6.6%
Political movements
19.9% 
35.4%
35.1%
9.5%
Family & Friends
57.5% 
28.1%
10.1%
4.3%
NGO's
23.5%
31.3%
35.4%
9.8%
Women's organizations
32.4%
28.9%
28.4%
10.4%
Research centre
56.3%
24.6%
10.2%
8.9%
Schools & colleges
70.5%
18.1%
7.6%
3.7%
Foreign experts
17.8%
24.2%
50.1%
7.9%
Palestinian National Authority 
50.2%
23.3%
18.4%
7.1%
Prisoners
51.2%
33.6%
8.7%
6.5%
UNRWA
40.2%
26.0%
21.6%
12.2%
Returnees
43.3%
35.4%
13.7%
7.2%

Gaza Strip
 
I trust
Depends 
Don't trust 
No opinion 
Local leaders
31.1% 
25.5%
34.9%
8.5%
Religious Leaders
52.2% 
27.6%
14.4%
5.9%
Political movements
24.6% 
27.7%
39.6%
8.2%
Family & Friends
58.9% 
26.7%
10.6%
3.8%
NGO's
24.6%
28.2%
38.7%
8.5%
Women's organizations
24.6%
23.5%
41.1%
10.9%
Research centre
62.2%
22.0%
9.1%
6.7%
Schools & colleges
75.4%
16.4%
4.7%
3.5%
Foreign experts
32.6%
28.2%
33.1%
6.2%
Palestinian National Authority 
53.4%
22.0%
17.0%
7.6%
Prisoners
58.7%
22.3%
10.3%
8.8%
UNRWA
44.3%
30.2%
20.2%
5.3%
Returnees
39.0%
26.1%
27.9%
7.0%

Q.29 Which in your opinion is/are the best source/s of information about policies?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Newspapers & magazines 
10.3%
10.9%
9.1%
Radio & TV
41.4%
40.0%
44.6%
Political leaflets
6.8%
6.6%
7.4%
Religious sermons & publications 
6.4%
5.8%
7.6%
Meetings & conferences
8.4%
8.7%
7.9%
Other
20.1%
20.6%
18.8%
Foreign & Hebrew press
0.5%
0.7%
0.0%
No opinion
5.8%
6.5%
4.7%

Q.30 Are you willing to put more effort into finding more information on the political situation?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes
73.9%
73.0%
76.5%
No
22.2%
32.2%
19.6%
Other
1.0%
0.8%
1.5%
No opinion 
2.9%
3.0%
2.3%

Q.31How much do you know about the following:

Total
 
Enough 
Not enough 
Not at all 
No opinion 
Paris Economic Agreement
4.8% 
26.0%
65.2%
4.0%
DOP (Oslo)
22.5%
44.7%
29.2%
3.6%
Cairo Agreement
19.3%
42.3%
34.2%
4.2%
Transfer of Authority
17.7%
40.2%
37.9%
4.2%
Early Empowerment
14.7%
34.9%
44.8%
5.6%

West Bank
 
Enough 
Not enough 
Not at all 
No opinion 
Paris Economic Agreement
4.1% 
25.6%
65.8%
4.4%
DOP (Oslo)
20.1%
44.8%
30.3%
3.9%
Cairo Agreement
18.0%
41.2%
36.1%
4.7%
Transfer of Authority
18.1%
40.4%
36.9%
4.6%
Early Empowerment
14.7%
35.4%
43.7%
6.2%

Gaza Strip
 
Enough 
Not enough 
Not at all 
No opinion 
Paris Economic Agreement
6.2% 
27.3%
64.2%
2.3%
DOP (Oslo)
28.2%
43.1%
26.7%
2.1%
Cairo Agreement
22.3%
45.2%
30.2%
3.2%
Transfer of Authority
17.0%
40.5%
39.9%
2.6%
Early Empowerment
18.0%
34.3%
47.2%
3.5%

Q.31-1 If you are aware of. From where did you get your information?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Radui & TV 
43.2%
41.7%
44.0%
Newspapers 
7.9%
7.0%
9.5%
From people
2.4%
2.1%
2.5%
Political sources 
11.4%
10.2%
13.5%
More than one
19.9%
19.5%
19.8%
Israeli press
0.4%
0.1%
0.0%
No opinion
14.8%
19.4%
10.7%

Q.32 Whom do you think has control over water resources in the autonomous areas? Is it:
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Palestinian National Authority 
41.1%
41.6%
40.2%
Israeli Military Government
49.1%
47.7%
52.2%
Other organizations
1.6%
1.9%
0.9%
No opinion
8.2%
8.8%
6.7%

Q.33 Do you think that the Cairo Agreenent provides the Palestinians with authorities that go beyond the autonomous areas in Gaza and Jericho?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes
33.6%
36.1%
28.7%
No
46.2%
41.5%
56.6%
Other
1.1%
0.7%
2.7%
No opinion 
19.1%
21.6%
12.0%

Q.34 Are Israeli military orders still in force in the autonomous areas?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Military orders are still in force 
47.7%
46.3%
50.7%
Military orders are not in force
15.4%
18.1%
9.7%
Some are in force and others are not 
31.8%
29.6%
37.0%
No opinion 
5.1%
5.9%
2.6%

Q.35 In your opinion, would you say that autonomy is a step forward towards the implementation of full Palestinian political rights?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes
39.6%
38.2%
43.1%
No
39.9%
40.0%
40.2%
Nothing new 
16.2%
16.7%
14.7%
Other
1.3%
1.7%
0.6%
No opinion 
3.0%
3.5%
1.5%

Q.36 What is the role of Israeli policies and practices on the democratic situation in the autonomous area?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Has no role
20.7%
19.4%
23.5%
Limits democracy 
66.6%
65.6%
69.5%
Interfers somewhat 
1.5%
1.1%
2.4%
No opinion 
11.2%
14.0%
4.7%

Q.37 What in your opinion are the five most difficult problems facing the Palestinian Authority:
 
Total

First Problem

Total 

Second Problem 

Donor Countries
9.0%
6.3%
Settlements
4.0%
3.2%
Unemployment
7.2%
7.2%
The economy
22.3%
14.0%
Occupation
5.1%
4.0%
Chios in the PA 
0.8%
2.4%
Education
0.2%
1.0%
Prices
0.7%
1.4%
Housing
1.4%
2.2%
Chios in cities
0.2%
0.7%
The closure
2.6%
3.6%
Check points
0.3%
1.8%
Expettees
0.2%
0.3%
Opposition
12.8%
7.4%
Intifada-related problems 
0.5%
0.7%
Security
2.9%
3.0%
Leadership
0.1%
0.1%
Land Confiscation
---
0.3%
Human rights violation
0.3%
1.4%
Detaines
0.3%
3.5%
Al-Aqsa Mosque
2.5%
2.3%
Control over natural resources
0.1%
1.0%
Non utilization of qualified people 
1.5%
1.1%
Lack of public confidence towards the PA 
0.2%
2.2%
Jerusalem
1.6%
3.1%
Inability to cotrol the situation
2.5%
0.3%
Collaborators
0.6%
0.3%
National Unity
1.2%
1.6%
Infrastructure
0.8%
2.2%
Borders
0.7%
0.7%
Rabin
0.1%
0.5%
To go to Israel for their decisions
0.6%
1.3%
No seperation of power
0.1%
0.1%
Insufficient Jurisdiction
1.7%
0.3%
Hatred of Islamic nation of the authority
0.1%
0.5%
Arafat
0.2%
0.5%
Transfer of authority
1.1%
2.2%
Suppression
0.3%
0.9%
Lack of weapons
0.1%
0.8%
Israel's non compliance with Oslo
3.3%
0.3%
Political problems
0.7%
0.3%
Suicidal attacks
0.3%
---
Normulization
0.1%
---
Social problems
0.1%
---
No answer
7.1%
13.1%

Q.38 What are the most important issues you would like to know about the agreement with Israel?
 
Total
Final status
12.8%
Boundaries of Palestine
4.9%
Limitations on the PA
1.8%
Israeli commitments
5.4%
Progress in hte PA's jurisdiction 
3.6%
Jerusalem
15.6%
Refugees and detainees
6.2%
Why the PA approved the agreement 
1.7%
The articles of the agreement
17.0%
Where are my rights?
5.0%
Collaborators
0.3%
Is it a real peace?
1.1%
Settlements
2.8%
The Palestinian Issue
0.7%
Redeployment
0.7%
The economic situation
0.5%
Water, Zonning
0.4%
No answer
17.5%

Q.39 I will read to you some statements. Please tell me whether, they are very important, somewhat important, or not at all important to you?

Total
 
Very Important  Somewhat important  Not Important 
No opinion 
Law and order
95.7% 
2.2%
0.6%
1.5%
Elections
88.6%
7.6%
2.0%
1.8%
Settlements
68.7%
2.7%
25.2%
3.5%
Jerusalem
97.9%
0.4%
0.4%
1.3%
Democracy
82.7%
9.5%
3.6%
4.2%
Radicalism
38.3%
13.9%
37.5%
10.3%
Economic situation 
95.4%
2.1%
0.8%
1.7%
Crime
64.8%
10.1%
20.2%
4.9%
Education
97.4%
1.1%
0.3%
1.2%
Housing
93.6%
4.5%
0.5%
1.3%

West Bank
 
Very Important  Somewhat important  Not Important 
No opinion 
Law and order
96.1% 
2.2%
0.6%
1.1%
Elections
88.5%
7.9%
1.8%
1.8%
Settlements
71.7%
3.0%
22.4%
3.5%
Jerusalem
98.2%
0.4%
0.3%
1.1%
Democracy
80.4%
10.8%
3.3%
5.5%
Radicalism
38.0%
15.9%
35.8%
10.2%
Economic situation 
95.0%
2.5%
1.0%
1.5%
Crime
66.4%
10.1%
18.4%
5.1%
Education
97.4%
1.2%
0.3%
1.1%
Housing
92.4%
5.7%
0.6%
1.3%

Gaza Strip
 
Very Important  Somewhat important  Not Important 
No opinion 
Law and order
95.3% 
2.3%
0.9%
1.5%
Elections
89.1%
7.6%
2.6%
1.2%
Settlements
63.9%
2.1%
31.1%
2.9%
Jerusalem
97.9%
0.3%
0.6%
1.2%
Democracy
88.2%
7.0%
3.8%
0.6%
Radicalism
39.0%
16.0%
41.3%
9.7%
Economic situation 
97.1%
0.9%
0.6%
1.5%
Crime
61.9%
10.0%
24.3%
3.8%
Education
97.9%
0.9%
0.3%
0.9%
Housing
96.8%
2.1%
0.3%
0.9%

Q.40 Which are the four political or religious organizations you trust most?
 
Total

First Problem

Total 

Second Problem 

Fateh
37.7%
6.9%
Hamas
15.3%
11.7%
PFLP
3.2%
5.6%
DFLP
1.6%
5.1%
Islamic Jihad
3.8%
9.9%
PPP
1.2%
3.1%
FIDA
0.6%
1.1%
Islamic movements
3.4%
0.7%
Do not trust anyone
9.2%
9.4%
Opposition
0.3%
---
Islamic religion
1.6%
9.5%
Palestinian National Authority
2.3%
0.6%
PLO
1.1%
0.6%
Others
1.8%
2.9%
No answer
17.0%
42.1%

Q.41 If elections were held soon, would you vote?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Yes
71.9%
71.9%
72.4%
No
14.5%
13.7%
16.1%
Depends on the political situation 
11.5%
12.4%
9.7%
No opinion 
2.1%
1.9%
1.8%

Q.42 How would you describe your financial situation?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Excellent 
2.4%
2.6%
2.1%
Very good
5.1%
5.8%
3.5%
Good
20.9%
23.1%
16.4%
Fair 
37.3%
39.1%
33.7%
Difficult
12.3%
10.4%
16.4%
Very difficult 
7.8%
7.2%
9.1%
Miserable
13.3%
10.9%
18.2%
No opinion
0.9%
0.8%
0.6%

Q. 43 Education:
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
No schooling 
3.6% 
4.1%
2.1%
One year of schooling 
0.7% 
0.7%
0.6%
Two Years of schooling 
1.0% 
1.4%
0.3%
Three years of schooling 
0.5% 
0.4%
0.6%
Four years of schooling
2.5%
3.2%
1.2%
Five years of schooling
3.0%
3.3%
2.3%
Six years of schooling
6.0%
6.5%
5.0%
Seven years of schooling 
3.5%
4.0%
2.3%
Eight years of schooling
5.1%
5.3%
5.0%
Nine Years of schooling 
7.4%
7.9%
6.2%
Ten years of schooling
5.2%
5.4%
5.0%
Eleven yerars of schooling 
4.8%
4.3%
5.6%
Twelve years of schooling
56.5%
53.4%
63.9%
No answer 
0.2%
0.1%
0.0%

Q.44 University/College:
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
No college education 
60.7% 
65.0%
51.9%
One year
3.9% 
3.5%
5.0%
Two years
15.2% 
13.0%
19.9%
Three years
3.2% 
2.9%
3.8%
Four years
9.8%
8.6%
12.6%
Five years
1.6%
1.2%
2.3%
Six years
0.7%
0.7%
0.6%
Seven years
0.4%
0.3%
0.0%
Eight years
0.3%
0.4%
0.0%
No answer
4.3%
4.3%
3.2%

Q.45 Age (Average):
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
31.5% 
31.7%
31.0%

Q.46 Social status
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Single
32.8%
35.3%
28.2%
Married
62.7%
60.7%
66.9%
Divorced
0.7%
0.7%
0.9%
Widow
2.6%
2.6%
2.6%
No opinion 
1.2%
0.6%
1.5%

Q. 47 Profession
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Workers
10.6% 
13.0%
5.6%
Clerks
6.5% 
5.7%
8.2%
House Wives
40.0% 
40.1%
39.3%
Unemployed
10.2% 
9.4%
12.0%
Professional
7.8%
7.3%
8.8%
Skilled workers
4.2%
4.3%
4.1%
Students
8.4%
8.2%
9.1%
Businessmen
3.5%
2.6%
5.3%
Retired
2.0%
1.8%
1.8%
Farmers
1.8%
2.6%
1.5%
Clergy
0.1%
0.1%
0.0%
Policemen/soldiers
0.6%
0.1%
1.5%
Government employee
0.6%
0.1%
1.5%
Para professionals
0.4%
0.3%
0.6%
No answer
3.6%
4.4%
1.8%

Q.48 Religion
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Moslems
96.4%
95.6%
98.5%
Christians
2.4%
3.2%
0.9%
No opinion 
1.2%
1.2%
0.6%

Q.49 Gender?
 
Total 
West Bank 
Gaza Strip 
Female
60.0%
60.0%
60.4%
Male
39.3%
39.5%
39.3%
No opinion 
5.7%
0.5%
0.3%