Introduction
The first Palestinian public opinion poll to be conducted
following the recent bombings in Jerusalem and the subsequent Israeli measures
shows that:
-
The level of pessimism regarding the political situation
has increased.
-
There is increased support for suicide operations.
-
There is an increase in the number of people who believe
that corruption exists in Palestinian Authority (PA) institutions.
-
There is no real change in attitudes toward the peace process
in general; only a very slight increase in support for the Olso Accords
was found.
-
It is clear that the recent events have had an impact on
the Palestinian people. The level of those surveyed who said that they
were "very pessimistic" has increased from 6.9% in July to 9.0% in August.
The level of those surveyed who said that they were "pessimistic" rose
from 25.7% in July to 28.3% in August 1997.
-
Moreover, the percentage of those who support suicide operations
has increased by over 5% to 28.2% compared with 23.6% in May. The percentage
of those who oppose such operations decreased from 64.7% in May to 56%
today.
-
Concerning the Oslo agreements, there appears to be a general
impresion that Israel is trying to avoid implementing them. There has been
only a slight rise in the level of Oslo supporters; the percentage of those
who "strongly support" the Oslo accords has increased to 10.5% from 8.2%
in July. Palestinians who oppose the Oslo agreements have decreased to
28.4% today, compared with 30.4% in July. A certain consistency in attitudes
towards the peace process in general was noted, which has the been the
trend throughout the last two years.
Methodology
A random sample of 1,195 Palestinians, over the age of
18 years, were interviewed throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip on 20,
21 and 22 August 1997. 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 60 sampling points chosen
randomly according to population.
In the West Bank, 756 people were surveyed from the following
areas: Jerusalem: Old city, a-Ram, Dhahyat al Barid, Beit Hanina,
Beith Hanina Refugee Camp (RC), Silwan, Ras al-Amoud, Sheikh Jarrah, Wadi
al-Joz. Bethlehem: Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Deiheishe
RC. Hebron: Hebron, Fawar RC, Beit Ummar, Dura, Bani Naim, Beit
Ula. Jenin: Jenin, Jenin RC, Sanour, Maythaloun, al-Shuhada, 'Arabeh,
al-Yamoun, Burqeen, Qabatia, Zababdeh. Tulkarem: Tulkarem, Tuklarem
RC, Nazlet Issa, Baqa sharqia, Zeita, Sida. Qalqilia: Qalqilia.
Nablus:
Nablus, Balta RC, Beit Dajan, 'Asira, Salfit, Bureen, Madama. Ramallah:
Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jalzon RC, Jifna, Beinia, al-Mizra' al-Sharqia.
Jericho:
Jericho.
In the Gaza Strip, 439 people were surveyed from: Khan
Younis, Rafah, Maghazi RC, Gaza City, Sabra, Khan Younis RC, Sheikh Radwan,
Al-Daraj, Al-Tuffah, Al-Naser, Jabalia RC, Shati' RC, Breige RC, Beit Lahia,
Beith Hanoun, Shaoura RC, Rafah, Al-Rimal, Shoujai'a, Jabalia al-Balad,
Deir al-Balah, Tal al-Sultan, Nseirat RC.
The major of error is plus or minus 3% with a confidence
level of 95%.
Sample Distribution
-
56.4% of the respondents were from the West Bank
-
36.7% from the Gaza Strip
-
6.9% from Jerusalem
-
31.6% said they live in villages
-
23.9% in refugee camps
-
44.5% in towns/cities
-
51.2% were male
-
48.8% were female
-
59.2% were married
-
28.8% were single
-
4.9% were widowed
-
1.4% were divorced
-
5.7% No answer
-
The average of age of the respondents was 33 years.
Occupation respondents
Students 14.6%
Waged labourers 11.3%
Housewives 31.9%
Employees eg. secretaries/teachers/nurses/municipal employees
19.6%
Businessmen/private business 8.4%
Farmers/fishermen 1.8%
Craftsmen 1.2%
Professionals - eg. doctors/lawyers/pharmacists/engineers
2.1%
Unemployed 4.8%
Retired 1.9%
No answer 2.4%
Results
Q.1 In general, to what extent would you say you are optimistic
about the future? Would you say you are very optimistic, optimistic, pessimistic,
or very pessimistic?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Very optimistic |
5.8%
|
5.3%
|
6.6%
|
| Optimistic |
56.0%
|
54.1%
|
59.2%
|
| Pessimistic |
28.3%
|
30.4%
|
24.6%
|
| Very Pessimistic |
9.0%
|
9.7%
|
7.7%
|
| No answer |
0.9%
|
0.5%
|
1.9%
|
Q.2 In general, do you support or oppose the current peace
process between the Palestinians and Israel? Do you strongly support, somewhat
support, strongly oppose or somewhat oppose?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip |
| Strongly support |
21.6%
|
22.2%
|
20.5%
|
| Somewhat support |
46.4%
|
45.1%
|
48.5%
|
| Strongly oppose |
13.4%
|
12.6%
|
14.8%
|
| Somewhat oppose |
12.6%
|
13.9%
|
10.5%
|
| No answer |
6.0%
|
6.2%
|
5.7%
|
Q.3 Now that the Oslo agreements for the transitional
period have been implemented for some time, to what extent your support
or oppose these agreements?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Strongly support |
10.5%
|
10.6%
|
10.3%
|
| Cautiously support |
53.6%
|
54.2%
|
52.6%
|
| Do not support |
28.4%
|
27.9%
|
29.2%
|
| No answer |
7.5%
|
7.3%
|
7.9%
|
Q. 4 In general, how would you rate the overall performance
of the Palestinian Authority? Would you say that its performance has been
very good, good, bad, or very bad?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Very good |
11.7%
|
11.6%
|
11.8%
|
| Good |
55.0%
|
55.8%
|
53.5%
|
| Bad |
19.6%
|
18.9%
|
20.7%
|
| Very bad |
8.7%
|
8.2%
|
9.6%
|
| No answer |
5.0%
|
5.5%
|
4.4%
|
Q.5 Looking back at the last year and a half since the
Council has been elected, what is your opinion about its performance in
general? Would you say you are very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied
or very dissatisfied?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Very satisfied |
5.2%
|
4.0%
|
7.3%
|
| Satisfied |
33.1%
|
33.9%
|
31.9%
|
| Dissatisfied |
38.7%
|
39.4%
|
37.6%
|
| Very dissatisfied |
17.1%
|
16.7%
|
17.8%
|
| No answer |
5.9%
|
6.0%
|
5.4%
|
Q.6 Some Palestinians think that the level of corruption
in the Palestinian Authority is high; others think that there is corruption
but it is not widespread; while others think that there isn't any corruption.
What do you think?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| There is a great deal |
47.3%
|
43.1%
|
54.4%
|
| There is a fair amount |
43.3%
|
46.4%
|
37.8%
|
| There is hardly any at all |
5.5%
|
6.3%
|
4.1%
|
| No answer |
3.9%
|
4.2%
|
3.7%
|
Q. 7 Do your support the suicide bombing against Israeli
targets in the current political conditions?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Yes |
28.2%
|
27.1%
|
30.1%
|
| No |
56.0%
|
56.1%
|
55.8%
|
| Others |
2.9%
|
2.9%
|
3.0%
|
| No answer |
12.9%
|
13.9%
|
11.1%
|
Q. 8 Do you support or oppose the way Yasser Arafat is
handling his job as President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Strongly support |
26.9%
|
22.1%
|
35.1%
|
| Somewhat support |
39.3%
|
41.9%
|
34.9%
|
| Strongly oppose |
11.7%
|
12.6%
|
10.3%
|
| Somewhat oppose |
17.6%
|
18.5%
|
15.9%
|
| No answer |
4.5%
|
4.9%
|
3.8%
|
Go to Part Two
