Introduction
-
Support for the peace agreements is now lower than the period
following the September incidents. This also applies to the people's perception
of the PNA's performance.
-
There is lack of confidence in the Palestinian Council and
in its effectiveness.
-
The Palestinian public has more confidence in Al-Quds Newspaper,
Radio Paestine, and the Palestinian TV.
-
Differences still persist in the opinions of West Bank and
Gaza Strip Palestinians.
-
As for Palestinian public opinion regarding the peace process
and the PNA, it is clear that these indicators have gone down to the level
of the pre-September incidents. The popularity of Fateh declined from 42%
in October to 35.2% in December. The supporters of the Oslo Agreement also
declined from 23.5% in October to 19.7% in December. As for those who are
very optimistic about the future, the percentage fell from 19% in October
to 12.4% in December. Trust in President Arafat has also declined from
44.5% to 41.2%.
-
Major changes were observed in this poll regarding the public
confidence in the media. Confidence in Palestinian TV increased from 26.5%
in August to 41.3% in December (it is worth mentioning that the majority
of West Bankers 30.8% trust Jordan TV, as compared to 4.1% in the Gaza
Strip). As for radio, confidence in Radio Palestine increased from 33.4%
to 44.5%. The second is Israel Radio, and the third is Radio Monte Carlo.
-
As for final status issues, 84.1% of the public opposed any
final solution proposing annexing Israeli settlements to Israel in return
for giving the Palestinian land near the Egyptian borders. Moreover, the
Palestinian opposed the idea of keeping present Jerusalem unified under
Israeli sovereignty while having Abu Deis as a Palestinian Capital.
-
Only 24% of the Palestinians surveyed say that the Palestinian
Council fulfills their aspirations adequately. 48.3% said that the Council
represents them but with no effect.
This survey continued to show previous differences
that were observed between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Those who
said they are very optimistic in the West Bank is 10% compared to 17% in
the Gaza Strip. This is also true for the strong supporters of the interm
agreement. Whereas only 15.6% in the West Bank said that they strongly
support the agreement, the percentage in the Gaza Strip is 31.4% in the
West Bank. The same applies to support for President Arafat who enjoys
more support in the Gaza Strip (51.9%) than in the West Bank (35.7%).
Methodology
A random sample of 1,152 Palestinians, over the age of
18 years, were interviewed face-to-face throughout the West Bank and Gaza
Strip on 13 and 14 December 1996. The interviews were conducted on randomly
selected homes, and the sub jects inside each home were also selected randomly
according to Kish tables. The interviews were conducted in 83 sampling
points chosen randomly according to population.
In the West Bank, 757 people were surveyed from
the following areas: Bethlehem area, Bethlehem, Beit-Sahour, Beit-Jala,
Hussan, Ertass and Nahaleen; Hebron area, Hebron, Al-Fawwar RC, Al-Dahrieh,
Beit Ummar, Beni Naiem; Jerusalem, al-Ram, Dahyet al-Bareed, Shufat, Beit
Hanina, Old City, Hizma, Anata, Shu'fat RC, Noba, Beit Ello, Wad El-Joz;
Jenin, Jenin RC, Tobass, Masilya, Anza, Fakou', Beit Qad; Nablus/Salfit
Area: Nablus, Askar RC, Far'a RC, Salfit, Kufr Al-Deik, Deir Sharaf, Beit
Eiba, Huwara, Ein Yabous, Deir Al-Hatab, Azzmout; Ramallah area: Ramallah,
Jaba', Mukhmas, Beirzeit, Kobar, Deir Abu Misha'al, Shoukba, Beit E'mmar,
Liban al-Sharkiya; Tulkarem and Qalqilia area: Tulkarem, Qalqilia, Tulkarem,
Azzoun, Kufr al-Thulth, Safareen Beit Lied; Jericho area: Jericho, Jeftlik,
Aqabet Jaber RC....
In the Gaza Strip, 395 people were surveyed from:
Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, Deir al-Balah RC, Nusseirat RC, Rafah, Jabalya,
Jabaly a-Nazala, Jabalya RC, Khan Younis, Khan Younis RC, Nusseirat RC,
Rafah, Shati RC, Maghazi RC, and 'Abasan, Nur Shames RC, Beni Shila, Erttah,
Sheikh Radwan, Sheikh Agaleen, Shaboura, Rimal, Al-Faloujeh.
The major of error is 3% with a confidence level of 95%.
Sample Distribution
-
59.0% of the respondents were from the West Bank
-
34.4% from the Gaza Strip
-
6.6% from Jerusalem
-
49.5% were male
-
50.5% were female
-
62.7% were married
-
29.6% were single
-
4.5% were widowed
-
1.2% were divorced
-
2.5% No answer
-
The average of age of the respondents was 33 years.
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 |
12.4%
|
10.0%
|
17.0%
|
| Somewhat optimistic |
62.2%
|
62.2%
|
62.3%
|
| Pessimistic |
18.4%
|
20.2%
|
14.9%
|
| Very Pessimistic |
5.9%
|
6.2%
|
5.1%
|
| No opinion |
1.1%
|
1.3%
|
0.8%
|
Q.2 After the elapse of sufficient time on the implementation
of the Oslo Agreement, to what extent would you say you support or oppose
this agreement?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip |
| Strongly support |
19.7%
|
15.6%
|
27.6%
|
| Somewhat support |
55.2%
|
55.9%
|
53.9%
|
| Do not support |
19.1%
|
21.7%
|
14.2%
|
| No opinion |
6.0%
|
6.9%
|
4.3%
|
Q.3 What is your evaluation of the performance of the
PNA after one year of its assumption of authorities? Would you say it s
good, average, or poor?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Good |
37.8%
|
36.6%
|
40.0%
|
| Average |
44.8%
|
44.5%
|
45.3%
|
| Poor |
14.2%
|
14.5%
|
13.7%
|
| No opinion |
3.2%
|
4.4%
|
1.0%
|
Q.4 In general would you say you support or oppose the
peace process?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Support the peace process |
78.1%
|
75.8%
|
82.5%
|
| Oppose the peace process |
14.1%
|
14.7%
|
13.2%
|
| No opinion |
7.7%
|
9.5%
|
4.3%
|
Q.5 Which political or religious party do you trust most?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Fateh |
35.2%
|
31.4%
|
42.3%
|
| Hamas |
10.3%
|
8.3%
|
14.2%
|
| PFLP |
3.2%
|
4.0%
|
1.8%
|
| DFLP |
0.4%
|
0.5%
|
0.3%
|
| Islamic Jihad |
1.3%
|
1.3%
|
1.3%
|
| PPP |
0.5%
|
0.7%
|
0.3%
|
| FIDA |
0.9%
|
1.2%
|
0.3%
|
| Democratic Coalition |
0.1%
|
0.1%
|
--
|
| Other Islamic Movements |
3.8%
|
4.5%
|
2.5%
|
| Secularists supporting peace |
0.3%
|
0.4%
|
0.3%
|
| Secularists opposing peace |
0.1%
|
--
|
0.3%
|
| PLO |
1.0%
|
1.5%
|
--
|
| Do not trust anyone |
27.0%
|
27.2%
|
26.6%
|
| No opinion |
15.9%
|
18.9%
|
10.2%
|
Q.6 Which Palestinian personality you trust most?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Yasser Arafat |
41.2%
|
35.7%
|
51.9%
|
| Ahmed Yassin |
4.8%
|
3.4%
|
7.3%
|
| George Habash |
1.8%
|
2.5%
|
0.5%
|
| Haidar Abdul Shafi |
4.2%
|
3.7%
|
5.1%
|
| Faisal Husseni |
1.6%
|
2.2%
|
0.3%
|
| Hanan Ashrawi |
2.2%
|
2.1%
|
2.3%
|
| Others |
12.3%
|
12.2%
|
12.6%
|
| Do not trust anyone |
19.5%
|
21.8%
|
15.2%
|
| No opinion |
12.4%
|
16.4%
|
4.8%
|
Q.7 To what extent would you say that the Palestinian
(legislative) Council represents the aspirations of the Palestinian people?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Represents the Palestinian people well |
24.0%
|
22.5%
|
26.8%
|
| Represents the Palestinian people but to no effect |
48.3%
|
48.6%
|
47.6%
|
| Represents the people in a bad way |
14.8%
|
14.5%
|
15.2%
|
| No opinion |
13.0%
|
14.4%
|
10.4%
|
Q.8 Which radio station do you trust most?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Voice of Palestine |
44.5%
|
46.2%
|
41.3%
|
| Israel Radio |
10.2%
|
10.3%
|
10.1%
|
| Jordan Radio |
8.0%
|
11.8%
|
0.8%
|
| BBC Radio |
5.0%
|
4.6%
|
5.8%
|
| Monte Carlo Radio |
10.2%
|
8.7%
|
12.9%
|
| Egypt Radio |
2.5%
|
1.2%
|
5.1%
|
| Others |
9.6%
|
9.2%
|
10.6%
|
| Do not trust anyone |
2.4%
|
2.8%
|
1.8%
|
| No opinion |
7.6%
|
5.7%
|
11.4%
|
Q.9 Which television station do you trust most?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Palestine TV |
41.3%
|
28.0%
|
66.8%
|
| Israel TV |
7.4%
|
7.4%
|
7.3%
|
| Jordan TV |
21.6%
|
30.8%
|
4.1%
|
| Egypt TV |
4.0%
|
0.8%
|
10.1%
|
| Others |
13.2%
|
18.2%
|
4.8%
|
| Do not trust anyone |
4.9%
|
1.7%
|
2.8%
|
| No opinion |
7.6%
|
2.2%
|
3.8%
|
Q.10 Which Newspaper you trust most?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Al-Quds Newspaper |
52.6%
|
53.9%
|
50.1%
|
| Al-Ayyam Newspaper |
8.6%
|
9.5%
|
6.8%
|
| Al-Nahar Newspaper |
3.2%
|
3.2%
|
3.3%
|
| Al-Hayat Newspaper |
7.6%
|
4.1%
|
14.4%
|
| Al-Bilad Newspaper |
0.7%
|
0.3%
|
1.5%
|
| Al-Haq and Al-Hurieh Newspaper |
3.6%
|
4.6%
|
1.8%
|
| Others |
0.5%
|
0.4%
|
0.5%
|
| Do not trust anyone |
3.2%
|
3.9%
|
1.8%
|
| No Opinion |
19.8%
|
20.1%
|
19.5%
|
Q.11 In the framework of the final status negotiations,
would you support the idea that says that Israel could annex settlement
blocs that comprise a Jewish majority in return for land to be given to
the Palestinians near the Egyptian borders?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Agree |
6.7%
|
8.1%
|
4.1%
|
| Disagree |
84.1%
|
80.8%
|
90.4%
|
| No opinion |
9.2%
|
11.1%
|
5.6%
|
Q.12 In the framework of the final status negotiations,
do you agree with the idea that says that settlers could remain under Palestinian
sovereignty?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| I agree |
24.4%
|
30.5%
|
12.7%
|
| I disagree |
70.0%
|
61.8%
|
85.6%
|
| No opinion |
5.7%
|
7.7%
|
1.8%
|
Q.13 In the framework of the final status negotiations,
do you agree that the solution to the refugee issue woud be to grant them
with the right of return only to the Paestinian state only, or would you
say that the solution should guarantee their right to return back to their
homes that they were forced to leave in 1948?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| I agree that their return be limited to the Palestinian
state |
19.4%
|
23.6%
|
11.1%
|
| The solution should guarantee their right to return back
to their homes that they were forced to leave in 1948 |
73.2%
|
68.3%
|
85.6%
|
| No opinion |
7.4%
|
8.1%
|
6.3%
|
Q.14 In the framework of the final status negotiations,
do you support the idea that says that Jerusalem remains unified and a
capital of Israel, and to have Jerusalem (Abu Deis), which lies outside
the boundaries of present Jerusalem, as the Palestinian Capital, and provided
that the Aqasa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock be outside Israel's sovereignty
and administered by the Palestinian?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Agree |
9.0%
|
9.5%
|
8.1%
|
| Disagree |
85.0%
|
83.4%
|
88.1%
|
| No opinion |
6.0%
|
7.1%
|
3.8%
|
Q.15 Looking at the political and economic changes after
the establishment of the PA, would you say that your economic condition
and living standard became better, worse, or remained the same?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Better than before |
9.0%
|
8.7%
|
9.6%
|
| Worse than before |
47.9%
|
42.1%
|
59.0%
|
| The same |
40.3%
|
46.2%
|
28.9%
|
| No opinion |
2.8%
|
2.9%
|
2.5%
|
Q.16 Whom in your opinion is the legitimate representative
of the Palestinian people?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| PNA |
18.1%
|
17.2%
|
20.0%
|
| PLO |
25.3%
|
27.9%
|
20.3%
|
| PLO & PNA |
38.2%
|
36.1%
|
42.3%
|
| I do not know |
9.9%
|
9.0%
|
11.6%
|
| No opinion |
8.5%
|
9.9%
|
5.9%
|
Q.17 Whom, in your opinion, should be the reference (who
should be responsible for the other), the PLO or the PNA?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| The PLO is responsible for the PNA |
37.7%
|
38.4%
|
36.2%
|
| The PNA is responsible for the PLO |
19.2%
|
18.0%
|
21.5%
|
| There is no defference between both |
32.0%
|
31.0%
|
33.9%
|
| No opinion |
11.1%
|
12.5%
|
8.4%
|
