March 3, 2005

A public Opinion Survey conducted by the Palestinian Center for Research and
Cultural Dialogu- PCRD in Beit Sahour and prepared by Mr. Isam Musleh and
Dr. Walid Shomaly reveals that:
(82.1%) support holding Palestinian legislative elections next July 2005.
(44.0%) support the establishment of a new Palestinian political party that
will open new political horizons.
(79.9%) support Palestinian factions including opposition to transform to
political parties and join a national unity government.
(54.0%) believe that Palestinian political factions are not characterized by
democracy and transparency.
(33.2%) do not believe that prospective Palestinian elections that are due
next July will be impartial and reflect the Palestinians' public opinion.
(58.6%) believe that a non-violent massive movement against the Israeli
occupation will make Palestinians achieve their independence.
(38.2%) believe that Israel is the party that has gained most during the
past fifty three months of the Intifada as opposed to (17.9%) who believe
that Palestinians were the party that gained most.
(40.1%) believe that the Sharm-El-Sheikh summit will be a beginning of the
peace process and will bring peace and security to both Israelis and
Palestinians, whereas (50.0%) believe the opposite.
(49.3%) are satisfied with the newly formed Palestinian government as
opposed to (42.3%) who are unsatisfied.
(59.3%) oppose the suicidal attack that took place last Friday, Feb. 25,
2005 as compared to (36.3%) who support it.

The Executive Director of the PCRD, Dr. Walid Shomaly stated that
the poll was conducted during the period of February 26-28, 2005 and
included a random sample of 910 Palestinian adults, 18 years and older, from
the West Bank including East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. Dr. Shomaly pointed
out to the fact that the margin of error was (4%) and the percentage of male
respondents was (51.1%) while that of the female ones was (48.9%). He added
that the sample distribution over the West Bank (including East Jerusalem)
and the Gaza Strip was (63.7%) and (36.3%) respectively.
Dr. Shomaly stated that the poll reveals that only (28.2%) of
Palestinians believe that the Al-Aqsa Intifada has served their own
interests, whereas more than twice this percentage (68.2%) believe it has
harmed their interest, and (3.6%) express no opinion.

An overwhelming majority (83.1%) of Palestinians support holding
general legislative elections next July, whereas only (14.1%) oppose, and
(3.8%) are noncommittal.

When asked "If general elections were being held today, which
political faction would you vote for?" Fatah scored the highest (35.9%),
followed by Hamas (19.3%), national independents (5.5%), Islamic
independents (5.5%), PFLP (5.3%), Islamic Jihad (3.6%), DFLP (2.9%),
People's party (2.0%), Al-Nidal Palestinians Popular Front (1.9%), Fida
(0.4%), none of the above (9.6%), and (8.1%) express no opinion.

When asked if they would support an establishment of a new
Palestinian party that will open new political horizons, (44.0%) say they
would support, whereas (49.8%) would oppose, and (6.3%) are noncommittal.

An overwhelming majority (79.9%) of Palestinians support that
Palestinian factions including opposition transform to political parties and
join a national unity government, whereas only (16.5%) oppose, and (3.6%)
are noncommittal.

When asked about their opinion of Palestinian political factions,
54.0% of Palestinians believe that those factions are not characterized by
democracy and transparency, whereas (34.7%) believe the opposite, and
(11.3%) express no opinion.

When asked "Do you or not believe that prospective Palestinian
elections that are due next July will be impartial and reflect the
Palestinian public opinion?" a plurality (57.7%) says that they will be
impartial and reflect the Palestinian public opinion, whereas one third
(33.2%) say the opposite, and (9.1%) say whether do not know or express no
opinion.

An overwhelming majority (86.2%) support that Palestinian academics
and intellectuals take a more effective role in the Palestinian academic
life, whereas (8.6%) oppose, and (4.4%) refrain from answering this
question.

A plurality (58.6%) of Palestinians believes that a non-violent
massive movement against the Israeli occupation will make Palestinians
achieve their independence, whereas (35.6%) believe the opposite, and (5.8%)
express no opinion.

When asked "Do you prefer that the Palestinian Authority (PA) adopt
laws endorsed by Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) or the Islamic
Shari'a in the Palestinian law?" (68.6%) of Palestinians express inclination
towards the Islamic Shari'a, whereas 15.9% are more inclined towards laws
endorsed by the PLC, 11.3% would support both laws endorsed by PLC and
Islamic Shari'a, and 4.2% express no opinion.

More than one third (38.2%) of respondents believe that Israel is
the party that gained most during the past fifty three months of the
Intifada, whereas 17.9% believe that it was the Palestinians who gained
most, 15.5% say both (Israelis and Palestinians), and 28.4% are
noncommittal.

When asked about the success of the military option in fulfilling
Palestinians' aspirations, respondents were divided almost equally as to
this question, while (45.3%) say that the military option was a failure,
(44.3%) say the opposite, and (10.4%) refrain from answering this question.

Half of Palestinians (50.0%) believe that the Sharm El-Sheikh summit
does not form a beginning of the peace process and that it will not bring
peace and security to both Israelis and Palestinians, whereas more than
one-third (40.1%) believe that it will bring peace and security, and (9.9%)
are noncommittal.

When asked about their degree of satisfaction with the newly
designated cabinet that was ratified by the PLC last Thursday Feb. 24, 2005,
almost half (49.3%) express satisfaction, whereas (42.3%) express
dissatisfaction, and (8.5%) are noncommittal.

When asked "Do you support or oppose the suicide attack that took
place last Friday Feb. 25, 2005, and for the first time since the break out
of Al-Aqsa Intifada a plurality (59.3%) oppose the attack, whereas (36.3%)
still support, and (4.3%) express no opinion.

Chairman of the PCRD, Mr. Isam Musleh stated that the main goal of the poll
was to probe tendencies of Palestinians towards some of the important
political issues especially in this delicate time in our people's striving
to achieve freedom and independence. Mr. Musleh added that one of the main
concerns of the PCRD was to detect citizens' attitudes towards the existing
political parties and prospects of establishing a new political party that
will fulfill their political and social aspirations.

The main results are as follows:

1. Fifty three months back to the time when the current Al-Aqsa Intifada
broke out, do you believe that it served or harmed Palestinian interests?

Considerably served 12.5% Served 15.7%

Harmed 33.1% Considerably harmed 35.1%

No opinion 3.6%

2.Do you support or oppose holding Palestinian legislative elections in July
2005?

Strongly support 39.5% Support 42.6%

Oppose 8.8% Strongly oppose 5.3%

No opinion 3.8%

3.Do you believe that the so called "security wall" is intended by Israel to
halt Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets, or is it primarily part of a
strategy to grab more Palestinian land and prevent the emergence of an
independent Palestinian state?

13.0% To halt Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets

45.7% To be part of an Israeli strategy to grab more Palestinian land and
prevent the emergence of a Palestinian state

39.8% Both to halt Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets and it is
primarily part of a strategy to grab more Palestinian land and prevent the
emergence of an independent Palestinian state

1.5% No opinion

4. Do you believe that there exists a Palestinian political faction that
represents your current political opinion?

Yes there is such a faction? 51.9%

No there is not such a faction 41.3%

Do not know/no opinion 6.8%

5. If elections were being held today, which political faction would you
support?

Fatah 35.9% Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) 5.3%

People's party 2.0% Hamas 19.3%

Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) 2.9%

Al-Nidal Palestinian Popular Front 1.9% Islamic Jihad 3.6%

Fida 0.4% Islamic Independents 5.5% National Independent 5.5%

None of the above 9.6% No opinion 8.1%

6. Why in your opinion would you vote for the political faction that you
selected in question 5?

because of its political agenda. 47.6%

because of its religious agenda 22.1%

because of its social and economic agenda 6.6%

to get social services. 2.8%

to get financial support. 4.1%

to be employed at one of its affiliated institutions. 2.7%

For personal reasons. 7.3%

I have a partisan friend. 0.6%

Do not know / No Opinion. 6.0%

7. Do you support the establishment of a new Palestinian political party
that will open new political horizons?

Strongly support 17.5% Support 26.5%

Oppose 32.4% Strongly oppose 17.4%

No opinion 6.3%

8. In your opinion, what chances of success such a new Palestinian party has
in the coming legislative elections?

Will highly succeed 10.8% Will succeed 24.9%

Will not succeed 30.3% Will never succeed 21.4%

Do not know / No opinion 12.5%

9. Are you going to support one of the existing Palestinian political
factions in the next elections if it called for a just peace based on
establishing the state of Palestine alongside with Israel' and that
Jerusalem be a unified capital for the two states?

Strongly support 19.6% Support 37.3%

Oppose 25.3% Strongly oppose 14.5%

No opinion 3.4%

10. In case of an emergence of a new Israeli political party that will adopt
establishing a just peace based on a two state solution i.e. Israel and
Palestine, do you support or oppose a Palestinian party that will adopt the
same agenda in the next Palestinian elections in July?

Strongly support 15.1% Support 33.2%

Oppose 28.4% Strongly oppose 17.1%

No opinion 6.3%

11. In your opinion, do you think that chances of success for such a
Palestinian political party will be more or less than that of its Israeli
counterpart that holds the same agenda for the next Israeli election?

17.3% It has much more chances of success than those of its Israeli
counterpart

09.6% It has more chances of success than those of its Israeli counterpart.

13.1% It has as equal chances of success as those of its Israeli counterpart

21.0% It has less chances of success than those of its Israeli counterpart

17.7% It has much less chances of success than those of its Israeli
counterpart

21.4% No opinion

12. Do you support or oppose Palestinian factions including the opposition
to transform to political parties and join a national unity government?

strongly support 44.7% somewhat support 35.2%

somewhat oppose 10.0% strongly oppose 6.5%

no opinion 3.6%

13. In case of the emergence of a new Palestinian political party, what in
your opinion its agenda should include?

* Social Justice that includes freedom, democracy,and peace.:

a. Very important 62.9% b. Important 29.5%

c. Unimportant 3.5% d. Absolutely unimportant 2.7% e. No opinion 1.4%

* Economic Development:

a. Very important 72.1% b. Important 22.7%

c. Unimportant 2.0% d. Absolutely unimportant 2.0% e. No opinion 1.2%

* Human Rights: that includes education, health care, freedom of expression,
freedom of conviction and worship.

a. Very important 64.9% b. Important 29.1%

c. Unimportant 2.6% d. Absolutely unimportant 2.1% e. No opinion 1.3%

* Civic Rights: that includes equality among all citizens, women's rights,
children's rights, social Planning that includes marriage, be questing,
divorce...etc.

a. Very important 61.9% b. Important 31.1%

c. Unimportant 2.9% d. Absolutely unimportant 2.5% e. No opinion 1.6%

* Just Peace with Israel based on the United Nations resolutions:

a. Very important 39.8% b. Important 28.1%

c. Unimportant 15.6% d. Absolutely unimportant 11.2% e. No opinion 5.3%

14. Do you think that the Palestinian Political factions are?

Characterized by democracy and transparency 34.7%

Are not characterized by democracy and transparency 54.0%

No opinion 11.3%

15. Which political streams do you expect it to score highest in the next
Palestinian legislative elections?

Islamic 41.6% Leftist democratic 13.5% National independents 13.1%

Islamic independents 5.4% Secular 12.2% Do not know /No opinion 14.2%

16. Do you or not believe that prospective Palestinian general elections
will be impartial and will represent the Palestinians' public opinion?

57.7% I do believe that elections will be impartial and reflect the
Palestinian public opinion

33.2% I do not believe that prospective general elections will be impartial
and reflect the Palestinian's public opinion

09.1% No opinion

17. The Geneva initiative mainly calls for a two state solution, Jerusalem
as a capital for the two states i.e. Israel and Palestine, and an agreed
solution on the refugees problem. Do you support or oppose this initiative?

Strongly support 20.7% Support 30.0%

Oppose 25.6% Strongly oppose 20.1%

Do not know\no opinion 3.6%

18. Did you vote in the past presidential elections on January 9, 2005?

Yes 68.7% No 29.7% No opinion 1.6%

19. Are you satisfied with the results of the past presidential elections?

Highly satisfied 26.2% Satisfied 30.7%

Unsatisfied 24.5% Absolutely unsatisfied 15.9% No opinion 2.7%

20. In your opinion, are you in favor or against that Palestinian academics
and intellectuals play a more effective role in the Palestinian political
life?

strongly in favor 49.0% in favor 37.9%

against 6.0% strongly against 2.6% no opinion 4.4%

21. Do you or not believe that a non-violent massive movement against the
Israeli occupation will make Palestinians achieve their independence?

strongly believe 21.0% believe 37.6%

do not believe 26.3% strongly do not believe 9.3%

No opinion 5.8%

22. Do you prefer the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) implement laws
endorsed and ratified by Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) or the
Islamic Shari' a in the Palestinian law?

15.9% laws endorsed and ratified by PLC

68.6% the Islamic Shari' a

11.3% both laws endorsed by PLC and Islamic Shari 'a

04.2% no opinion

23. If you were to live in historical Palestine (i.e. Israel, West Bank, and
Gaza Strip), what kind of a regime would you like to live under:

21.2% A secular and democratic state in which Jews, Christians, and Muslims
live together

46.4% An Islamic state

16.5% A secular state while Islam would still be its official religion

11.4% A bi-national state with equal rights for all citizens

04.5% Do not know / No opinion

24. Do you support or oppose a Palestinian woman to occupy high ranking
state positions?

Strongly support 30.0% Support 41.2%

Oppose 15.6% Strongly oppose 11.2%

Do not know / No opinion 2.0%

25. In your opinion what would be the best choice to guarantee internal
stability in the Palestinian territories?

49.5% The formation of a unified national leadership

10.0% The formation of a national emergency government

34.3% The formation of a collective leadership made of efficient and
experienced individuals

06.3% Do not know / No opinion

26. Are you in favor or against the demilitarization of the Intifada?

In favor 36.8% Against 54.7% Do not know / No opinion 8.5%

27. In your opinion, which party i.e. Israel or Palestinians has gained
most during the past fifty three months of the Intifada?

Israel 38.2% Palestinians 17.9% Both Israeli and Palestinians 15.5%

None of them 28.4%

28. Do you believe that the military option has failed in fulfilling the
aspirations of Palestinians?

Yes 45.3% No 44.3% Do not know / No opinion 10.4%

29. Do you have confidence in the existing Palestinian factions in
fulfilling the aspirations of the Palestinian people?

Yes 56.3% No 36.0% Do not know / No opinion 7.7%

30. Do you think that the Sharm El Sheikh summit will be a beginning to the
peace process and will bring security and peace for both Israelis and
Palestinians?

Yes 40.1% No 50.0%

Do not know / No opinion 9.9%

31. Are you satisfied with the newly formed Palestinian Government that
gained the confidence of the PLC last Thursday Feb. 24, 2005?

Highly satisfied 17.5% Satisfied 31.8%

Unsatisfied 27.6% Absolutely unsatisfied 14.7%

Do not know / No opinion 8.5%

32. Which of the political parties do you support? (Please choose one
answer)

Fatah 35.9% Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) 6.4%

People's party 2.9% Hamas 18.9%

Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) 2.7%

Al-Nidal Palestinian Popular Front 0.8% Islamic Jihad 3.7%

Fida 0.7% Islamic Independents 5.1%

National Independents 5.7% None of the above 15.1%

Do not know / No opinion 2.2%

33. Do you support or oppose the suicide attack that took place last Friday
Feb. 25, 2005?
Strongly support 20.3% Support 16.0%
Oppose 24.4% Strongly oppose 34.9%
No opinion 4.3%

Contact Persons:
Mr. Isam Musleh / Dr. Walid Shomaly
Telfax: 02-277-4707
Mobile: 059-838-088 / 0545-576-290
Email: pcrd@p-ol.com

Bethlehem -West Bank
P.O box: 396
Tel:+972-2-2774325
Telefax: +972-2-2774707
Mobile: 059-838088
Email: pcrd@p-ol.com
Registered at the Ministry of Interior with the number: BL.357.CU