DSP PalestinianOpinion Poll # 11 6-10 Feb 2003

Development Studies Programme (DSP), Birzeit University
Ramallah Office
Irsal Str. opposite Khalid Hospital
Tel : 972 (2) 2959250 , 2958116
Fax : 972 (2) 2958117
P.O. Box 1878
Ramallah, Palestine
E-mail : dsp@birzeit.edu

Annex 1
Field Research: February 6-10-2003
Date of Publication: March 12, 2003
Sample size: 1314 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza
Margin of error: +/- 3%
http://home.birzeit.edu/dsp/DSPNEW/polls/poll_11/tables.htm
[Results in percentages]
All results represent the opinions of the respondents and do not represent
the viewpoint of Birzeit University or the Development Studies Programme or
any other related body.
For details on our methodology, refer to our web page.
Many thanks go to our field researchers, and to our friends at the
International Republican Institute (IRI) for their support.

Section 1: Living Conditions

Compared with before the advent of the Intifada - Palestinian Uprising
(October 2000), how do you evaluate the living conditions of your family?
improved 3.4 deteriorated 81.9 no change 14.7

How do you evaluate the current economic status of your family?
very good 1.5 good 12.2 fair 36.9 bad 30.8 very bad 18.5

What are your expectations for the year 2003, do you expect that your
family's income will
improve 20.9 deteriorate 40.5 not change 29.6 no opinion 9.0

During the last two years, have family disputes
declined 5.7 increased 33.0 no change 18.1
there are no family disputes 42.6 no opinion 0.5

When you look at your life, do you think that your life has been better or
worse than that of your parents?
better 30.9 the same 22.5 worse 44.1 do not know 2.6

Compared with how your life has been going, do you expect that your children
will live:
better? 50.7 the same 11.6 worse 23.5 do not know 14.1

How do you feel about the future?
very optimistic 8.4 optimistic 58.6
pessimistic 24.7 very pessimistic 8.3

Section 2: Social and Institutional Support

Regarding the following list of issues, to which one of these types of
institutions do you go to in case of looking for support or solution?

to obtain emergency assistance to cover family expenses
Family kinship 40.9 NGOs 18.8 UNRWA 14.9
PNA Ministries and institutions 14.4 Others 10.9

in case of serious dispute with other families - clans
Family kinship 70.8 PNA Ministries and institutions 21.8
NGOs 3.2 UNRWA 0.8 Others 3.4

in case your were exposed to an assault
Family kinship 53.4 PNA Ministries and institutions 41.3
NGOs 1.4 UNRWA 0.3 Others 3.5

in case of burglary in your home
PNA Ministries and institutions 72.6 Family kinship 18.4
NGOs 2.4 UNRWA 0.4 Others 6.3

when in need of emergency medical services
PNA Ministries and institutions 50.2 UNRWA 18.0
NGOs 15.8 Family kinship 9.0 Others 6.9

when in need to cover expenses for education
NGOs 26.8 PNA Ministries and institutions 26.7
Family kinship 24.7 UNRWA 10.7 Others 11.1

In the last year, which one of these institutions was the primary provider
of financial or in-kind assistance to your family?
I have not received any assistance 45.1 UNRWA 18.8
NGOs 15.5 PNA Ministries and institutions 10.1
Family kinship 4.5 Others 6.0

Section 3: Reform

How important are the following reform measures in the advancement of
Palestinian society? Would you say they are very important, important,
somewhat important, not important, or not at all important?

Ending the Israeli Occupation
very important 83.3 important 12.7 somewhat important 1.3
not important 0.8 not at all important 0.5
no opinion 1.4

Reforming PNA institutions
very important 62.4 important 31.4 somewhat important 2.7
not important 1.4 not at all important 0.6 no opinion 1.5

Reforming United Sates' approach to the Palestinian issue
very important 56.6 important 22.6 somewhat important 3.6
not important 8.7 not at all important 3.7 no opinion 4.8

Reforming local councils
very important 47.8 important 41.5 somewhat important 6.3
not important 1.7 not at all important 0.5 no opinion 2.2

Reforming political groups
very important 47.3 important 35.7 somewhat important 6.8
not important 4.9 not at all important 0.8 no opinion 4.5

Reforming international donor organizations
they are very important 46.1 important 36.4 somewhat important 6.8
not important 5.3 not at all important 1.0 no opinion 4.4

Reforming NGOs
very important 44.2 important 42.5 somewhat important 6.6
not important 3.0 not at all important 0.5 no opinion 3.2

Reforming UNRWA
very important 43.1 important 37.1 somewhat important 7.3
not important 5.8 not at all important 1.2 no opinion 5.5

Section 4: Evaluation of Institutions

How much do you trust the following Palestinian institutions?

Schools
Trusting 80.1 Somewhat trusting 13.3 Not trusting 5.1 no answer 1.6

Palestinian Universities
Trusting 76.2 Somewhat trusting 14.4 Not trusting 5.8 no answer 3.6

Zakat Committees
Trusting 65.4 Somewhat trusting 17.6 Not trusting 12.3 no answer 4.7

Governmental health services
Trusting 58.9 Somewhat trusting 24.7 Not trusting 13.6 no answer 2.8

The Police
Trusting 47.4 Somewhat trusting 24.5 Not trusting 23.9 no answer 4.2

Local media
Trusting 46.9 Somewhat trusting 32.1 Not trusting 14.7 no answer 6.3

The Judiciary
Trusting 42.4 Somewhat trusting 24.7 Not trusting 25.3 no answer 7.6

Security Agencies
Trusting 38.5 Somewhat trusting 25.6 Not trusting 29.4 no answer 6.5

PNA Ministries
Trusting 38.2 Somewhat trusting 28.4 Not trusting 27.6 no answer 5.8

Women's Unions
Trusting 37.5 Somewhat trusting 24.9 Not trusting 23.5 no answer 14.1

Workers' Unions
Trusting 35.0 Somewhat trusting 33.1 Not trusting 22.8 no answer 9.1

Palestinian Opposition
Trusting 34.7 Somewhat trusting 27.2 Not trusting 26.2 no answer 11.8

Palestinian Legislative Council
Trusting 34.3 Somewhat trusting 26.1 Not trusting 29.0 no answer 10.5

Political groups
Trusting 32.4 Somewhat trusting 28.0 Not trusting 26.4 no answer 13.2

The PNA
Trusting 31.5 Somewhat trusting 31.8 Not trusting 31.9 no answer 4.7

Section 5: Social Problems

In your evaluation, are the following social problems rising or declining?

Monopolizing goods and services
Rising 80.0 Declining 12.2 Do not Know 7.8

Fraud by merchants
Rising 77.3 Declining 14.1 Do not Know 8.6

Internal violence
Rising 75.0 Declining 22.6 Do not Know 2.5

Traffic problems
Rising 74.7 Declining 21.4 Do not Know 3.9

Theft
Rising 73.3 Declining 20.2 Do not Know 6.6

Disputes between citizens
Rising 73.0 Declining 24.5 Do not Know 2.4

Dropping out of schools
Rising 67.2 Declining 25.8 Do not Know 7.1

Building violations by citizens
Rising 66.5 Declining 20.1 Do not Know 13.4

PNA corruption
Rising 66.4 Declining 16.5 Do not Know 17.1

Divorce
Rising 65.4 Declining 22.8 Do not Know 11.8

Early marriage (under 16)
Rising 65.0 Declining 30.4 Do not Know 4.6

Beating of children
Rising 62.4 Declining 30.5 Do not Know 7.1

Beating of women
Rising 58.6 Declining 29.2 Do not Know 12.2

Expired products
Rising 56.3 Declining 30.2 Do not Know 13.5

Taking over of other people's land through force by citizens
Rising 45.1 Declining 37.8 Do not Know 17.0

Section 6: Political Affiliation

Which of the following political groups do you support?
Fateh 20.9 Hamas 15.1 Independent, with Islamic leaning 12.8
Islamic Jihad 7.4 Independent, with Fateh leaning 3.3
PFLP 2.1 PPP 1.3 DFLP 1.0 Independent, with Leftist leaning 0.9
Other Islamic Factions 0.6 Other Nationalist Factions 0.5
Feda 0.2 None 34.1