28 March 2004
PRESS RELEASE
Palestinian Public Opinion Poll

WHILE THREE QUARTERS OF THE PALESTINIANS WELCOME SHARON'S PLAN OF
WITHDRAWAL FROM GAZA AND WHILE TWO THIRDS SEE IT AS VICTORY FOR ARMED
STRUGGLE AGAINST OCCUPATION, 58% OF THE PALESTINIANS PREFER TO SEE THE
PALESTINIAN ATUHORITY AND ISRAEL NEGOTIATE THE WITHDRAWAL PLAN AND 61%
BELIEVE SHARON IS NOT SERIOUS AND WILL NOT WITHDRAW

14-17 March 2004

These are the results of the latest poll conducted by the Palestinian
Center for Policy and Survey Research in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip between March 14 and 17, 2004 (before the Israeli assassination of
Ahmad Yasin. Total size of the sample is 1320 adults interviewed face
to face in 120 randomly selected locations. Margin of error is 3%.

For further details, contact PSR director, Dr. Khalil Shikaki or Ayoub
Mustafa, at Tel 02-2964933 or email pcpsr@pcpsr.org

SUMMARY OF RESULTS:

(1) Gaza Withdrawal Plan

* About three quarters of the Palestinians welcome Sharon's plan to
evacuate 17 settlements in the Gaza Strip and few more in the West
Bank and two thirds believe it represents a victory for the armed
struggle against occupation, but only one third believes Sharon is
serious and will indeed withdraw and 61% believe he is not serious
and will not withdraw.

* A majority of 58% prefers to see the PA negotiate with Israel
Sharon's withdrawal plan, and 38% prefer to see the withdrawal
being carried out unilaterally.

* 41% support and 54% oppose Israeli-Hamas negotiation of Israeli
withdrawal from Gaza.

* Withdrawal from Gaza will increase the chances for a peace
settlement in the view of 32% and will decrease the chances for
peace in the view of 24%.

* In the view of the Palestinians, Sharon's intentions are: first, to
push the Palestinians toward internal infighting; second, to
consolidate control over the West Bank; third, to frighten the
Palestinian leadership of its opposition; and fourth, to maintain a
Jewish majority in Israel.

* Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip will lead to a decrease in
armed attacks against Israel from the Gaza Strip in the view of 41%
and will lead to an increase in such attacks in the view of 30%. In
the Gaza Strip, 49% believe it will lead to a decrease in the
attacks.

* After the withdrawal and the evacuation of settlements, 54% propose
to give homes in settlements to those whose homes have been
demolished by Israel, 22% want to give them to refugees, and 13%
would like to demolish them.

(2) Separation Wall and Checkpoints

* 55% believe the building of the separation wall will lead to an
increase in armed attacks against Israel. 40% believe the best
means for the Palestinians to fight it is by armed confrontations
and bombing attacks inside Israel; 27% believe in a ceasefire
agreement and return to the peace process; 10% prefer popular non
violent demonstrations; and 11% believe going to the international
court of Justice is the best means of fighting the wall.

* A majority of 61% believes that the International Court of Justice
will be biased in favor of Israel and only 26% believe it will be
neutral.

* 41% believe that the best means of fighting Israeli military
checkpoints is through reaching a ceasefire and returning to the
peace process and 28% believe armed confrontations and bombing
attacks are the best means, while 9% have confidence in popular
non-violent demonstration.

(3) Peace Process, Reconciliation, Armed Attacks, Hizballah Prisoners'
Deal, and the Arab Summit

* 66% believe the Roadmap has collapsed. Last December, 58% believed
it had collapsed; and last October the percentage was 68%.

* Wide support for armed attacks: 87% support attacks against Israeli
soldiers, 86% support attacks against settlers, and 53% support
attacks against Israeli civilians.

* Despite that, 84% support mutual cessation of violence and 70%
support a Hudna.

* 67% believe that armed confrontations have helped the Palestinians
achieve national rights in a way that negotiations could not.

* After reaching a peace agreement and the establishment of a
Palestinian state, 74% would support reconciliation between the two
peoples, but 42% are convinced that such reconciliation is not
possible ever.

* 80% believe that Hizballah came out a winner from the prisoners'
exchange with Israel.

* In the occasion of the Arab Summit in Tunis, 86% of the
Palestinians believe that they cannot count on Arab States to
support them in regaining their rights.

(4) Domestic Issues

* Only 20% to 25% believe that Prime Minister Abu Ala' has been able
to achieve his four stated objectives of putting an end to internal
anarchy, prepare for elections, carry out political reforms, and
return to negotiations. Despite the low evaluation, only 39%
believe that he should resign and 47% believe he should not.

* 63% believe Israeli occupation is responsible for the chaos in the
Palestinian areas and 25% put the blame on the Palestinian security
services and the Palestinian leadership.

* 70% want to have Palestinian legislative and presidential elections
after Israel ends its occupation of Palestinian cities and towns,
but 27% support holding them now.

* 91% support internal and external calls for fundamental political
reforms in the PA.

* Positive evaluation of Palestinian democracy does not exceed 23%,
with 84% believing that corruption exists in the PA, and 94%
believing that one can not find a job without a wasta.

* Arafat's popularity stands at 38% as the case was last December.

* For the office of a vice president, Marwan Barghouti remains at the
top with 16%, followed by Abdul Aziz Rantisi with 14%, and Saeb
Erikat with 8%.

* Fateh's popularity stands at 27% and Hamas at 20%. In the Gaza
Strip, Hamas has the support of 27% compared to 23% for Fateh. The
popularity of the Islamists combined (Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and
independent Islamists) stands at 29% and the percentage of the
non-affiliated stands at 40%.

End of Press Release