14 March 2005 PRESS RELEASE
Palestinian Public Opinion Poll

SHARP DECREASE IN SUPPORT FOR SUICIDE BOMBINGS INSIDE ISRAEL AND
SATISFACTION WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF ABU MAZIN, BUT HAMAS' POPULARITY
INCREASES WHILE FATEH'S DECREASES

10-12 March 2005

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 10-12, 2005. Total size of the sample is 1319 adults interviewed face
to face in 120 randomly selected locations. Margin of error is 3% and
rejection rate 2%.

For further details, contact PSR director, Dr. Khalil Shikaki, at tel
02-296 4933 or email pcpsr@pcpsr.org.

* Support for the Tel Aviv night club suicide attack, which took place about
three weeks ago, reaches 29% compared to 77% for the Bir Shiba suicide
attack in September 2004 and 75% for the Maxim Restaurant suicide attack in
Haifa in October 2003. Opposition to the Tel Aviv attack reaches 67%. But
support for the steps taken by the PA to punish the perpetrators, such as
arrests, does not exceed 40% while 57% oppose them.

* Support for Fateh reaches 36% (compared to 40% last December) and for
Hamas 25% (compared to 18% last December). Support for Hamas in the Gaza
Strip reaches 32% and in the West Bank 21%. Support for Fateh in the Gaza
Strip reaches 35% and in the West Bank 36%.

* Palestinian public expects close results for Fateh and Hamas in the
upcoming May local elections and a victory for Fateh in the legislative
elections scheduled for July 2005. But in the Gaza Strip, the public expects
a major victory for Hamas in the local elections and a victory for Fateh in
the legislative elections.

* The public believes that Hamas' victory in the previous local elections
has been due firstly to the integrity and incorruptibility of its candidates
and secondly to the unity and discipline within the movement. Fateh's loss
is attributed firstly to the spread of corruption in the PA and Fateh and
secondly to divisions and lack of discipline in the movement.

* 75% are satisfied with Abu Mazin's performance with regard to steps taken
to revive the peace process, such as the ceasefire and release of prisoners.
70% are satisfied with his dismissal of senior security officers, and 62%
believe that Abu Mazin is serious about fighting corruption in the PA.

* Only 45% give confidence in the new cabinet headed by Abu Ala'. Despite
that, 71% believe the new cabinet will be able to return to the peace
process; 57% believe it will be able to improve economic conditions; 52%
believe it will be able to control the security situation including the
enforcement of a ceasefire; a similar percentage believes the new cabinet
will be able to fight corruption; and 49% believe it will be able to carry
out political reforms.

* Only 44% view positively the achievements of Sharm al Sheikh summit in
reviving the peace process.

* In the current Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, the public organizes its
short term priorities as follows: release of prisoners is on top followed by
three issues having the same exact importance: freezing settlement
construction, stop building the separation barrier inside the West Bank, and
return of laborers to work inside Israel. The next priority is the removal
of Israeli checkpoints. In the West Bank alone, the list of priorities puts
stopping the barrier in second place after release of prisoners, then the
freeze of settlement construction, and the removal of checkpoints. In the
Gaza Strip, release of prisoners' is also the top priority but it is
followed by return of laborers to work inside Israel.

* 75% support a women quota of 20% guaranteed seats in the legislative
council. But the public is split on the electoral system with 39% supporting
the current district-based majority system, 26% supporting a proportional
representation system, and 25% supporting a mixed system combining elements
of the two other systems.

* 91% support internal and external calls for fundamental political reforms
in the PA, and 87% believe there is corruption in the PA, and 51% believe
this corruption will increase or remain the same in the future.

This PSR survey was conducted with the support of the Konrad Adenauer
Foundation in Ramallah

end of PRESS RELEASE