Introduction
JMCC’s latest poll, conducted on October 21
-22, 1999, did not show any significant change in the support for the Palestinian-Israeli
peace process; the poll also tackled the issue of confidence in local and
Arab mass media and the performance of the Palestinian National Authority.
The results can be summarized in the following main points:
1- The Political Process:
-
When compared with the results of last August polls, results
show a consistency in Palestinians’ support to the Palestinian-Israeli
peace process, where it reached 58%.
-
A majority of Palestinians (70.7%) are optimistic regarding
the future in general.
2- The PNA Performance and Palestinian
Factions:
-
There is a significant increase in the popularity of President
Yasser Arafat, where the Palestinians who trust the President rose from
(28%) last August, prior to signing Sharm Sheikh Agreement, to (32%) in
this poll.
-
Regarding the performance of the PNA, there is a slight rise
in ratio of Palestinians (63%) who are satisfied with the Authority performance
compared with (58.8%) last August.
-
Only half of the Palestinians surveyed view improvement in
the feeling of self security under the PNA compared with (44.5%) who see
their self-security feeling retreating or remaining the same.
-
There is a slight decrease in the ratio of Palestinians who
do not trust any political or religious figure from (41.3%) last August
to reach (29.9%) in October 1999.
-
On popularity of Fateh Movement, results show a rise from
(28%) last August to (33.8%) this October.
-
There is also an increase in Hamas popularity from (8.5%)
in August to (11.1%) this October.
3- Mass Media:
-
On the independence of the Palestinian media, a minority
of the Palestinian people (20.1%) believe that the Palestinian press is
independent; moreover, Palestinians surveyed said daily newspapers are
more independent than the Radio and the television.
-
There is a majority of Palestinians (73%) who believe that
having an independent press is a vital need to promote democracy in Palestine
while (81.1%) think that the press must have an impact on the government.
-
The majority of Palestinians (64.6%) believe that the Palestinian
media must be more open to the social and non-political issues.
-
Among the TV stations surveyed, the Palestinian TV won the
highest (although the figure is still low) ratings (21.6%) in terms of
viewers, but the largest ratio of viewers (36.8%) trust the news brought
by Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel.
-
The majority of Palestinians included in the sample listen
to the Israeli Radio (24%); however, the ratio of Palestinians who trust
the news broadcast by Voice of Palestine is higher (25.3%).
-
Regarding newspapers, Jerusalemite Al-Quds daily newspaper
got the highest ratings in terms of readers (57.3%) and the highest ratio
of confidence (59.4%).
Methodology
A random sample of 1200 people over the age
of 18 were interviewed face-to-face throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip
on21, 22 October 1999. The interviews were conducted in randomly selected
homes, and the subjects inside each home were also selected randomly according
to Kish tables. The interviews were conducted in 58 sampling points chosen
randomly according to population.
In the West Bank, 762 people were surveyed
from the following areas: Jenin: Jenin, Tubas, Jenin refugee camp,
Kufr Ra'ii,Arrabeh, Silat al-Harthieh. Nablus: Nablus, Salfit, Huwara,
Beit -Dajan, Deir Sharaf, Kufr al Deik, Burin, Askar refugee campZuwwata.
Tulkarem:
Tulkarem , Tulkarem refugee camp, 'Anabta.Qalqilia:
Qalqilia, 'Illar,
al - Jayyous.Hebron: Hebron, Sa'eer ,Beit - Ula, Bani N'eim, Dura,
Assamou', Tarqoumia, al - Fawwar refugee camp.
Bethlehem: Bethlehem,
Nahalin, al - Duhha, Husan, al - 'Azzeh refugee camp. Jericho: Jericho
and 'Ein al - Sultan refugee camp. Ramallah & Jerusalem: al-Bireh,
Jalazon refugee camp, Sinjil, Ni'ilin, Silwad, Shuqba, Old City, al - Dahieh,
al - Ram, al - 'Izarieh, Abu Deis, Beit Hanina, Shu'fat, Beir Nabala, Qalandia
refugee camp,Kufr Aqab, 'Anata.
In the Gaza Strip, 438 people were surveyed
from: Gaza North: Jabalia refugee camp, Jabalia, Beit Lahia and
Beit Hanoun. Gaza: Sheikh Radwan, a-Darji, a-Tufah, Sabra, al-Meghraqa,
a-Zeitoon, a-Nasser, a-Shujaeih, a-Rimal north and south and Shati refugee
camp. Deir al- Balah: Nusseirat refugee camp, Deir al-Balah refugee
camp, Deir al- Balah. Khan Younis: Khan Younis, Khan Younis refugee
camp, Khuza'ah, al-Qararah and Bani Suheila. Rafah: Rafah,
Rafah refugee camp and Tal al-Sultan refugee camp.
The margin of error is +/-3 percent, with
a confidence level of 95
57.2% of the respondents were from West Bank,
6.3% from Jerusalem, 36.5% from the Gaza Strip.
41.9% said they live in villages, 16.0% in
refugee camps, 42.1% in towns/cities.
47.2% were male, 52.5% were female.
66.3% were married, 26.7%, single, 3.7% widowed,
1.4% divorced, 1.9% no answer.
The average age of the respondents was 34
years.
Results
Q.1 In general, how optimistic or pessimistic are you
towards the future?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
| Very Optimistic |
7.6
|
5.8
|
10.7
|
| Optimistic |
63.1
|
65.7
|
58.4
|
| Pessimistic |
19.9
|
20.6
|
18.8
|
| Very Pessimistic |
8.0
|
6.7
|
10.3
|
| No answer |
1.4
|
1.2
|
1.8
|
Q.2 In general, how do you feel about the Israeli -
Palestinian peace process?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Strongly support |
16.0
|
16.6
|
15.0
|
| Somewhat support |
42.0
|
45.1
|
36.8
|
| Neither support nor oppose |
21.8
|
21.9
|
21.5
|
| Somewhat oppose |
9.6
|
7.7
|
12.8
|
| Strongly oppose |
8.5
|
6.6
|
11.8
|
| No answer |
2.1
|
2.1
|
2.1
|
Q.3 In general, how do you evaluate the performance
of the Legislative Council?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Very good |
7.2
|
6.4
|
8.9
|
| Good |
55.8
|
59.9
|
48.7
|
| Bad |
23.8
|
22.0
|
26.7
|
| Very Bad |
8.2
|
6.2
|
11.6
|
| No answer |
5.0
|
5.5
|
4.1
|
Q.4 Who is the Palestinian figure you trust the most?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Yasser Arafat |
32.0
|
32.8
|
30.6
|
| Ahmad Yaseen |
6.4
|
5.1
|
8.7
|
| Haydar abdul - Shafi |
5.4
|
3.8
|
8.2
|
| Faial al - Husseini |
2.3
|
2.6
|
1.6
|
| Hanan 'Ashrawi |
2.5
|
2.6
|
2.3
|
| Sa'eb Erekat |
3.9
|
4.2
|
3.4
|
| Other figures |
8.8
|
9.0
|
8.7
|
| I don't trust anybody |
29.9
|
31.2
|
27.6
|
| No answer |
8.8
|
8.7
|
8.9
|
Q.5 Which political faction do you trust the most?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Fateh |
33.8
|
35.0
|
31.5
|
| Hamas |
11.1
|
9.4
|
13.9
|
| PFLP |
1.3
|
1.3
|
1.4
|
| Islamic Jihad |
1.9
|
2.1
|
1.6
|
| Other Islamic factions |
2.9
|
3.4
|
2.1
|
| Other factions |
2.7
|
3.7
|
1.3
|
| I don't trust anybody |
34.1
|
33.3
|
35.4
|
| No answer |
12.2
|
11.8
|
12.8
|
Q.6 In general, how do you evaluate people's attitude
towards the Peace Process?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| They support the Peace Process |
33.8
|
36.2
|
29.6
|
| They are hesitant in their attitudes |
42.9
|
43.2
|
42.5
|
| They oppose the Peace Process |
18.0
|
16.0
|
21.5
|
| No answer |
5.3
|
4.6
|
6.4
|
Q.7 Since the beginning of the Peace Process, do you
think that your feeling of self-security is better than it was before the
Peace Process?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| It is better |
53.5
|
48.6
|
62.1
|
| It didn't change |
28.2
|
32.7
|
20.3
|
| It is worse |
16.3
|
16.7
|
15.5
|
| No answer |
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.1
|
Q.8 Some people think that the Palestinian Press is
dependant, do you support or oppose this?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| The Palestinian Press is dependant |
38.5
|
36.2
|
42.6
|
| In between |
26.5
|
26.8
|
26.0
|
| The Palestinian Press is independant |
20.1
|
20.7
|
18.9
|
| I don't know |
13.1
|
13.9
|
11.6
|
| No answer |
1.8
|
2.4
|
0.9
|
Q.9 Why do you think the Palestinian Press lacks independance?
|
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Censorship and other effects from the Palestinian Authority. |
11.7
|
14.3
|
7.4
|
| Censorship and other effects from Israel. |
13.0
|
17.4
|
5.7
|
| Self censorship from the journalist himself. |
1.1
|
1.0
|
1.1
|
| Censorship from directors of Media means. |
2.6
|
2.9
|
2.0
|
| Restrictions from the society. |
0.6
|
0.9
|
0.3
|
| The level of Palestinian professional journalists is
weak. |
2.0
|
2.7
|
0.9
|
| The financial capabilities of the Palestinian Press is
weak. |
2.6
|
2.9
|
2.0
|
| Censorship and other effects from the Palestinian Authority
+ Censorship and other effects from Israel. |
13.8
|
14.8
|
12.0
|
| Censorship and other effects from the Palestinian Authority
+ Censorship and other effects from Israel+The financial capabilities of
the Plaestinian Press is weak. |
1.5
|
1.4
|
1.7
|
| Censorship and other effects from the Palestinian Authority
+ Censorship and other effects from Israel + Censorship from directors
of Media means. |
2.0
|
1.5
|
2.8
|
| Censorship and other effects from the Palestinian Authority
+ The level of Palestinian professional journalists is weak. |
1.6
|
1.5
|
1.7
|
| Censorship and other effects from the Palestinian Authority
+ The financial capabilities of the Palestinian Press is weak. |
3.0
|
0.9
|
6.6
|
| All the mentioned above. |
1.0
|
1.4
|
0.3
|
| Censorship and other effects from Israel + The financial
capabilities of the Palestinian Press is weak. |
2.5
|
2.0
|
3.1
|
| Censorship and other effects from the Palestinian Authority
+ Censorship and other effects from Israe l+ The level of the Palestinian
professional journalists is weak. |
2.5
|
1.9
|
3.4
|
| Censorship and other effects from the Palestinian Authority
+ Censorship and other effects from Israel+ Self censorship from the journalist
himself. |
1.2
|
0.7
|
2.0
|
| Censorship and other effects from Israel + Self censorship
from the journalist himself. |
1.3
|
1.2
|
1.4
|
| Censorship and other effects from the Palestinian Authority+
Censorship from directors of Media means. |
3.2
|
1.7
|
5.7
|
| Censorship and other effects from Israel+ Censorship
from directors of Media means. |
1.0
|
0.9
|
1.1
|
| Censorship and other effects from Israel+ The level of
the Palestinian professional journalists is weak |
1.2
|
1.0
|
1.4
|
| Censorship and other effects from the Palestinian Authority+
Censorship from directors of Media means+ The financial capabilities of
the Palestinian Press is weak. |
1.3
|
0.2
|
3.1
|
| Others |
12.2
|
9.1
|
18.3
|
| No answer |
17.1
|
17.7
|
16.0
|
Q.10 In your opinion, which of the following Palestinian
media means is more independant?
|
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| TV |
17.4
|
22.3
|
8.9
|
| Radio |
12.6
|
17.2
|
4.6
|
| Daily Newspapers |
20.2
|
24.8
|
12.1
|
| There isn't |
3.5
|
4.9
|
1.1
|
| Others |
0.3
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
| I don't know/ No answer |
46.0
|
30.4
|
73.1
|
Q.11 Among all TV channels, radio stations, and daily
newspapers, could you you mention the name of the channel, station, and
newspaper, that you think is more independant, you trust more, and those
you watch, listen, or read most ?
| TV channel most independant |
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Al - Jazira |
32.8
|
33.2
|
32.0
|
| Israel |
8.7
|
8.0
|
9.8
|
| MBC |
5.1
|
6.4
|
2.7
|
| Egypt |
2.5
|
1.7
|
3.9
|
| Jordan |
7.3
|
8.5
|
5.0
|
| Palestine |
13.6
|
12.1
|
16.2
|
| CNN |
1.4
|
0.9
|
2.3
|
| Watan |
2.2
|
2.4
|
1.8
|
| ANN |
1.4
|
0.7
|
2.7
|
| LBC |
1.6
|
1.3
|
2.1
|
| Future |
1.1
|
0.9
|
1.4
|
| Abu Dhabi |
1.6
|
0.9
|
2.7
|
| Al - Amal |
1.3
|
1.6
|
0.9
|
| No channel |
1.3
|
1.4
|
0.9
|
| Others |
6.4
|
8.8
|
3.0
|
| No answer |
11.7 |
11.2
|
12.6
|
| TV channel you trust most |
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| Al - Jazira |
32.5
|
32.3
|
32.9
|
| Israel |
6.6
|
6.0
|
7.5
|
| MBC |
6.0
|
7.1
|
4.1
|
| Palestine |
16.5
|
15.5
|
18.3
|
| Nablus |
1.3
|
2.0
|
0.2
|
| Jordan |
7.0
|
8.7
|
4.1
|
| CNN |
1.7
|
1.8
|
1.4
|
| Watan |
2.1
|
2.4
|
1.6
|
| ANN |
1.2
|
0.8
|
1.8
|
| Abu Dhabi |
1.7
|
0.5
|
3.7
|
| Future |
1.0
|
0.9
|
1.1
|
| Egypt |
2.3
|
1.0
|
4.3
|
| No channel |
2.7
|
2.5
|
3.0
|
| Others |
5.8
|
7.0
|
4.4
|
| No answer |
11.6
|
11.5
|
11.6
|
| TV channel you watch most |
Total
|
West Bank
|
Gaza Strip
|
| MBC |
7.8
|
8.4
|
6.6
|
| Al - Jazira |
19.5
|
20.5
|
17.8
|
| Jordan |
11.3
|
15.2
|
4.3
|
| Future |
1.8
|
1.8
|
1.6
|
| Watan |
2.6
|
3.0
|
1.8
|
| ART |
2.0
|
1.0
|
3.7
|
| Palestine |
19.8
|
14.8
|
28.5
|
| Israel |
4.8
|
5.0
|
4.3
|
| Syria |
1.6
|
2.5
|
0.0
|
| Nile |
1.3
|
2.0
|
0.0
|
| Abu Dhabi |
1.9
|
1.3
|
3.0
|
| Al - Amal |
1.8
|
2.2
|
1.1
|
| LBC |
1.6
|
0.9
|
2.7
|
| Al - Salam |
1.0
|
1.6
|
0.0
|
| Egypt |
6.3
|
3.5
|
11.2
|
| Others |
6.9
|
7.9
|
6.1
|
| No answer |
8.0
|
8.4
|
7.3
|
Go to Part Two
