Result of Palestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 10 January 1-2, 2005

An-Najah National University
Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies

Tel: (972)(9) 2381113/7, 2386584 Fax: (972)(9) 2387982
Nablus-Palestine: P.O.Box 7, 707
Email:Polls@najah.edu hussein596@yahoo.com
www.najah.edu/english/Centers/poll11a.asp

Following are the results of the Tenth Palestinian Public Opinion Poll
conducted by the Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies at An-Najah
National University during the period January 1st-2nd . The University
sponsors all polls conducted by its center. The sample included 1356 persons
whose age group is 18 years and above and who have the right to vote. The
sample forms one per thousand from among the total number of Palestinian
people of this age group. The enclosed questionnaire was distributed on 856
persons from the West Bank and 500 persons from the Gaza Strip. The sample
was drawn randomly and the margin of error is about +/-3%. Still 1.5% of the
members of the sample refused to answer the questionnaire.

General Results of the Poll

Will you participate in the coming presidential elections on the ninth of
this month?
Yes 74.3 No 15.6 I haven't decided yet 9.8
No opinion / I do not know 0.4

Do you think that the coming elections, which are supposed to take place,
this month will be fair and honest?
Yes 43.2 No 20.7 To same extent 29.5
No opinion / I do not know 6.6

There will be independent local supervisors who will supervise the
elections, how do you evaluate your trust in these supervisors?
Very good 19.8 Good 46.8 Weak 18.6 Bad 7.8
No opinion / I do not know 7

There will be international supervisors who will supervise the elections,
how do you evaluate your trust in these supervisors?
Very good 22.3 Good 39.7 Weak 17.1 Bad 14.3
No opinion / I do not know 6.6

Do you believe that there is a need for international supervisors on
presidential elections?
Yes 61.4 No 33.7 No opinion / I do not know 4.9

Have you heard or read about the election programs of the presidential
candidates?
Yes*I*No*I*There is no program *I*No opinion / I do not know
42.2*I*56*I*0.9 *I*0.9 *I*Bassam al-Salhi
46.2*I*51.7*I*1 *I*1.1 *I*Taysir Khalid
22.8*I*72.6*I*3.3 *I*1.3 *I*Sayyed Baraka
36.8*I*61.1*I*1.2 *I*1 *I*Abdul Haleem al-Ashqar
22.7*I*72.6*I*3.2 *I*1.4 *I*Abdul-Karim Shbair
86.7*I*12.2*I*0.4 *I*0.6 *I*Mahmoud Abbas
85.3*I*13.6*I*0.5 *I*0.6 *I*Mustafa al-Barghothi

To whom will you give your vote in the coming presidential elections?
Bassam al-Salhi 1.8 Taysir Khalid 2.3 Sayyed Baraka 1.2
Abdul Haleem al-Ashqar 2 Abdul-Karim Shbair 0.9
Mahmoud Abbas 38.5 Mustafa al-Barghothi 18.6
I haven't decided yet 21.8
I will not participate in the elections12
None of the above 1

How did you come to your decision of electing the presidential candidate?
(Choose the most important reason)
On the basis of the candidate's elections program 25.4
On the basis of a decision made by a political party or organization 17.5
On the basis of admiring the candidate's personality 16.9
On the basis of being committed to a family (clan) resolution 4.6
I haven't decided yet 23.4
Other reasons12.2

Do you believe that the coming president will make real reform in the
Authority's institutions?
Yes 68.9 No 20.6 No opinion / I do not know 10.5

Do you believe that the coming president will turn cases of corruption to
the courts of law?
Yes 36.7 Some of them 33.8 No 21.3
No opinion / I do not know 8.1

Do you think that the coming president will continue to adhere to the
unalienable rights of Palestinian people?
Yes*I*No*I*No opinion / I do not know
76*I*18.1*I*5.8 East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state
69.5*I*23.1*I*7.4 Not compromising the right of return
70.3*I*22.8*I*6.9 A state within the 1967 borders.
65.7*I*26.3*I*8 Sovereignty on borders and ports
61.9*I*30.3*I*7.8 The removal of settlements from within the 1967 borders
67*I*25.5*I*6.9 The right of water resources

Under the current circumstances, do you believe that the coming Palestinian
president will be capable of performing the following tasks?
Capable *I*Incapable*I*No opinion / I do not know *I*
69*I*25.2*I*5.8*I*Fighting corruption within the public institutions
75.1*I*18.1*I*6.7*I*Unifying the Palestinian security apparatuses
71.5*I*21.8*I*6.8*I*Imposing the rule of law
54.8*I*36.5*I*8.7*I*Putting an end to the chaotic use of arms
40.9*I*48.8*I*10.3*I*Protecting the subjects of Palestinian resistance
51.9*I*40.4*I*7.7*I*Putting an end to nepotism and mediation in appointments
57.4*I*33.8*I*8.8*I*Providing personal security for Palestinian people
76.2*I*17.4*I*6.4*I*Improving the economic situation
68.4*I*23.1*I*8.5*I*Reducing poverty and unemployment

In your opinion, who is the most favored with international and Arab support
from among the candidates?
Bassam al-Salhi 1 Taysir Khalid 0.7 Sayyed Baraka 0.5
Abdul Haleem al-Ashqar 0.4 Abdul-Karim Shbair 0.2
Mahmoud Abbas 84.9 Mustafa al-Bargothi 6.6
No opinion / I do not know 5.6

Do you believe that the coming president will (choose one):
Keep the same old staff members who worked with president Arafat 11.6
Replace the old staff members with new ones 25.9
Keep some of the old members 51.5
Others, specify 0.5
No opinion / I do not know 10.5

If you were elected as a president of the PA, what is the first step that
you would make an improve the local Palestinian situation?
Fighting corruption in public institutions 37.9
Improving the rule of law and order 28.9
Conducting legislative elections 7.1
Reducing poverty and unemployment 13
Upgrading the levels of educational and health services 6.9
Others 6.3

On the general scale, what is the thing that you hope the coming president
will do immediately after his elections?
Fighting corruption 32.8
Improving the rule of law and order 28
Conducting legislative elections 6.3
Reducing poverty and unemployment 7.7
Upgrading the levels of educational and health services 3.9
Uplifting the Israeli military checkpoints 15.9
Others 5.2

Do you support or reject the creation of a vice president position?
I support 81.1 I reject 10.9 No opinion / I do not know 8

After the election of a new president, do you support of reject changing the
negotiating team with a new one?
I support 60.1 I reject 26.9 No opinion / I do not know 13

Do you accept any final settlement between Palestinians and Israelis that
would compromise any one of the following issues?
Yes*I*No *I*No opinion / I do not know *I*
3.8*I*95.5 *I*0.7*I*East Jerusalem as the Capital of the Palestinian state
5.7*I*93.4 *I*1*I*The right of return of Palestinian refugees
7.4*I*90.3 *I*2.3*I*The creation of an independent Palestinian state in the
1967 borders
6.6*I*90.3 *I*3.1*I*Sovereignty over borders and ports
8.8*I*88.8 *I*2.4*I*The removal of settlements from within the 1967 borders
7.4*I*91.2 *I*1.4*I*The right of water
5.5*I*93.4 *I*1*I*Releasing all Palestinian prisoners

The Israeli government promised to introduce measures that would facilitate
conducting the Palestinian presidential elections, among there are,
uplifting checkpoints, not entering Palestinian cities, villages and refugee
camps and stopping military operations. Do you trust Israeli promises?
Yes 10.9 No 85.3 No opinion / I do not know 3.8

If Israel is committed to a cessation of its military operations in the West
Bank and Gaza, do you support or reject holding a new ceasefire (Hudna)
between the Palestinians and the Israelis?
I support 69 I reject 27.9 No opinion / I do not know 3.2

If an agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis on a new ceasefire
is reached, do you support or reject launching rockets at settlements built
on the lands of the Gaza Strip?
I support 36.5 I reject 58.8 No opinion / I do not know 4.63

Do you support or reject military operations against Israeli targets inside
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip only?
I support 61.9 I reject 32.7 No opinion / I do not know 5.4

Do you still support or reject the ongoing peace process between the
Palestinians and the Israelis?
I support 57.4 I reject 38.4 No opinion / I do not know 4.2

Do you believe that the Road Map as an agreement is still viable?
I support 19.1 I reject 73.9 No opinion / I do not know 7

Under the current circumstances that Palestinian people live, do you believe
that the retrieving respect to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)
as a matter which is ...?
Very necessary 41.7 Necessary 33.6
Not necessary 13.1 Absolutely not necessary 6.8
No opinion / I do not know 4.9

Under the current security conditions, do you feel that you, your family and
your properties are secure?
Yes 4.9 No 73.9 Partially 20.2 No opinion / I do not know 1

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of the Palestinian people
in the coming years?
I am optimistic 51.1 I am pessimistic 24.3
I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic 22.4
No opinion / I do not know 2.2

Do you see a necessity for a program that would define the form of the armed
and political Palestinian resistance that would be adopted by all
Palestinian factions?
A program is very necessary 46.7 Necessary 37.4
Not necessary 8 Absolutely not necessary 4.6
No opinion / I do not know 3.3

Do you support or reject commercial strikes and the closure of educational
institutions as a form of resistance against occupation?
I support 14 I reject 83.3 No opinion / I do not know 2.7

Do you support or reject the call for the demilitarization of the Intifada?
I support 33.4 I reject 60 No opinion / I do not know 6.6

The American president declared more than once that he is committed to his
vision of the creation of a Palestinian state; do you believe that he is
faithful in his declaration?
Yes, he is 4.4 No, he isn't 90.9 No opinion / I do not know 4.8

Do you believe that the current US administration will force Israel to
withdraw to the 1967 borders, so that a Palestinian state will be created in
these borders?
The US administration will force Israel to a complete withdrawal 5.5
The US administration will force Israel to withdraw from some areas 20.7
It will not force Israel to withdraw; Israel will decide the size of its
withdrawal 70.3
No opinion / I do not know 3.5

How do you assess the political support given to the Palestinian Authority
by the European Union?
Very good 10.7 Good 31.4 Fair 34.9 Bad 19
No opinion / I do not know 4

How do you assess political support of the Arab countries to the Palestinian
Authority?
Very good 6.4 Good 17.4 Fair 23.6 Bad 51.1
No opinion / I do not know 1.5

Which of the following parties and affiliations do you support?
People's Party 1.4
Democratic Front 2.7
Islamic Jihad 3.5
Fateh 33.8
Hamas 15.5
Fida 0.6
Popular Front 3.9
I am an independent nationalist 9.4
I am an independent Islamist 5.9
Non of the above 22.1
Others1.3