Poll no. 71_September 2010
www.jmcc.org/documentsandmaps.aspx?id=808

A public opinion poll conducted by Jerusalem Media & Communications Center
PO Box: 25047 Jerusalem
Tel: 02-2976555
Fax: 02-2976557
Email: poll@jmcc.org
Website: www.jmcc.org

A random sample of 1200 people over the age of 18 was interviewed
face-to-face throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip between 11-15 September
2010.
Results:

Q1. To what extent do you feel optimistic or pessimistic regarding the
future in general? Would you say that you are very optimistic, optimistic,
pessimistic, or very pessimistic?

9.3 Very optimistic
61.1 Optimistic
24.3 Pessimistic
5.1 Very pessimistic
0.2 No answer

Q2. Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way President Mahmoud Abbas
(Abu Mazen) is performing his job as president of the PNA?

23.1 Very satisfied
30.8 Somewhat satisfied
14.1 Somewhat unsatisfied
28.8 Very unsatisfied
3.2 No answer

Q3. In general, under the current government headed by Salam Fayyad, do you
believe that security and internal security conditions in the West Bank have
improved or regressed or have not changed?

50.7 Security and internal security have improved
17.2 Security and internal security have regressed
27.8 There has been no change in security and internal security
4.3 No answer

Q4. In general, under the Caretaker government headed by Ismail Haniyeh, do
you believe that security and internal security conditions in the Gaza Strip
have improved or regressed or have not changed?

30.2 Security and internal security have improved
35.7 Security and internal security have regressed
26.3 There has been no change in security and internal security
7.8 No answer

Q5. In general, under the current government headed by Salam Fayyad, do
you believe that the level of freedom (freedom of expression, freedom of
association etc.) in the West Bank has improved or deteriorated or that
there has been no change?

38.9 Improved
23.2 Deteriorated
32.9 Has been no change
5.0 No answer

Q6. In general, under the caretaker government headed by Ismail Haniyeh, do
you believe that the level of freedom (freedom of expression, freedom of
association etc.) in the Gaza Strip has improved or deteriorated or that
there has been no change?

17.5 Improved
40.8 Deteriorated
33.7 Has been no change
8.0 No answer

Q7. Who do you think bears responsibility for the escalating water crisis
in the Palestinian territories? Is it Israel, the PNA, the municipalities,
or the local councils?

68.5 Israel
14.9 The PNA
14.1 The municipalities and the local councils
2.5 No answer

Q8. Have you ever visited Jerusalem?
West Bankn=
75025.1 No
26.5 Yes : once
48.0 Yes: many times
0.4 No answer

Q8. Have you ever visited Jerusalem?
Gazan=
45063.3 No
20.7 Yes : once
16.0 Yes: many times
0.0 No answer

Q9. Some believe that a two-state formula is the favored solution for the
Arab-Israeli conflict, while others believe that historic Palestine cannot
be divided and thus the favored solution is a bi-national state on all of
Palestine, where Palestinians and Israelis enjoy equal representation and
rights. Which of these solutions do you prefer?

53.4 Two-state solution : an Israeli and a Palestinian State
30.7 Bi-national state on all of historic Palestine
6.2 Palestinian State *
1.8 Islamic State *
0.3 Others
4.9 No solution
2.7 I don't know / No answer
* These answers were not included as part of the options read to the
interviewee

Q10. Local Council elections were supposed to be held on July 17th but were
cancelled on short notice. Who do you think is responsible for that?

31.0 The Palestinian Authority
23.1 Fatah
30.7 Foreign governments (USA, Europe)
1.7 Hamas*
1.4 Internal Split *
1.8 Others
10.3 No answer
* These answers were not included as part of the options read to the
interviewee

Q 11. Which of the following parties / factions would you have voted for in
the Local Council elections?

43.8 Fatah
13.5 Hamas
3.7 PFLP
2.4 Palestinian National Initiative (Al -Mubadarah)
1.8 Islamic Jihad
0.9 PPP (Palestinians People's Party
0.6 DFLP
0.2 FIDA
1.2 Others
26.4 Won't vote
5.5 No answer

Q12. Recently, a Palestinian military operation was executed and it led to
the killing of four settlers in the Hebron area. Do you think that such an
operation would serve or harm the Palestinian national interests or that it
would have no impact at all?

25.6 It serves the Palestinian national interests
52.0 It harms the Palestinian national interests
18.7 It has no impact at all
3.7 I don't know / No answer

Q13. Do you support the resumption of the military operations against
Israeli targets as a suitable response within the current political
conditions, or do you reject it and find it harmful to Palestinian national
interests?

30.3 A suitable response within the current political conditions
59.4 I reject it and find it harmful to Palestinian national interests
0.9 Others
7.6 I don't know
1.8 No answer

Q14. In general, what do you think is the most effective strategy for the
Palestinians in order to obtain their national goals?

52.9 Negotiations
25.7 Violent resistance
15.7 Non-violent resistance
1.4 Others
4.3 No answer

Q15. The PLO Executive Committee accepted the call from the Quartet
Committee to resume direct negotiations at the start of September. Do you
think that this decision serves or harms the interests of the Palestinian
people?

54.3 It serves the interests of the Palestinian people
34.0 It harms the interests of the Palestinian people
2.0 It does not have any impact *
0.5 Others
9.2 No answer
* This answer was not included as part of the options read to the
interviewee

Q16. Why do you think the PLO Executive Committee agreed on entering direct
negotiations with Israel?

58.8 Due to external pressure
34.2 Because of belief in the success of the negotiations
1.4 Others
3.8 Don't know
1.8 No answer

Q17. Do you believe that there will be a significant change in the status
quo as a result of the negotiations?

38.3 Yes
55.7 No
6.0 No answer

Q18. What is your opinion about the performance of the new US Administration
headed by President Barack Obama one year after his inauguration regarding
the Middle East? Do you think the United States has improved its dealings
with the Middle East problems, or have you noticed regression or no change?

13.9 There has been improvement in the dealings of the United States with
Middle East problems
22.1 There has been a regression in the dealings of the United States with
Middle East problems
60.4 There has been no change in the United States dealing with Middle East
problems
3.6 I don't know / No answer

Q19. Do you think that changing to wintertime at the start of the month of
Ramadan was a good or bad decision?

67.5 Good decision
28.7 Bad decision
2.3 Others
1.5 No answer

Q20. Is religion an important part of your life?

93.8 Yes
4.8 No
1.4 I don't know / No answer

Q21. Have you performed Al-Umra (a pilgrimage to Mecca performed by Muslims
that can be undertaken at any time of the year)?*

n= 117824.4 Yes
75.0 No
0.6 No answer
* This question was asked only to Muslims

Q22. Do you agree or disagree with coeducation in schools?

38.3 I agree till elementary
10.8 I agree till secondary
50.2 I disagree with coeducation in schools
0.7 I don't know / No answer

Q23. From your point of view, is it useful for women to work outside the
house (be employed) or is it better for women not to work outside the house
in our country?

72.8 It is useful for women to work (be employed) outside the house
25.6 It is preferable for women not to work (be employed) outside the house
1.6 I don't know / No answer

Q24. Do you think that the Palestinian Personal Law must be based on the
principals of Islamic Sharia or on the Civil Law?

53.3 The Islamic Sharia
13.0 The Civil Law
33.1 Both
0.6 I don't know / No answer

Q25.Some shake hands with the other sex while others don't, how about you?
Do you shake hands with the other sex?*

n= 117836.7 I
shake hands with the other sex
62.5 I don't shake hands with the other sex
0.8 No answer
* This question was asked only to Muslims

Q26. Why don't you shake hands with the other sex? Is it for religious or
social reasons (traditions and habits)?*

n= 73685.9
Religious reasons
13.9 Social reasons ( traditions and habits)
0.2 No answer
* This question was asked to Muslims who answered that they don't shake
hands

Q27. Some women wear the Niqab face cover (full face cover with or without
eyes showing). How do you view this phenomenon, would you say it is a
positive or negative phenomenon?

45.3 Positive phenomenon
45.3 Negative phenomenon
7.2 I don't know
2.2 No answer

Q28. Did you fast during the month of Ramadan? *

n= 117895.2 Most
of the days or all of the days
3.2 A few days
1.0 I did not fast
0.6 No answer
* this question was asked only to Muslims

Q29. During the month of Ramadan, did you perform all religious prayers?*

n= 117886.9 I
prayed all days
7.6 I prayed only on Fridays
4.8 I didn't pray
0.7 No answer
* This question was asked only to Muslims

Q30. With regard to the monthly home expenditure during the month of
Ramadan, did it increase or decrease?*

n= 117880.1 It
increased
5.3 It decreased
14.4 No change
0.2 No answer
* This question was asked only to Muslims

Q31. Were you forced to borrow money during the month of Ramadan?*

n= 117834.8 Yes
58.9 No
6.3 No answer
* This question was asked only to Muslims

32. In general, which radio station do you listen to the most?*

10.8 Ajyal
5.8 Al-Quds
5.2 Al-Aqsa
4.4 Marah
4.3 Voice of Palestine
4.2 Al-Hureyah
3.8 Al-Qur'an Al-Kareem
3.5 Voice of Israel
2.1 Angham
1.8 Al-Sha'b
1.7 Voice of Al-Najah
1.7 Alwan
1.5 Amwaj
1.2 Gaza FM
1.1 Al-Ahlam
19.3 Don't listen to any station
15.4 Others
2.4 Don't know
9.8 No answer
* This is an open-ended question, no options were read to the interviewee

Q33. In general, the news programs of which radio station do you listen to
the most? *

10.2 Ajyal
7.8 Al-Quds
6.5 Al-Aqsa
6.4 Voice of Israel
4.9 Voice of Palestine
3.8 Al-Hureyah
3.4 Marah
2.2 Al-Sha'b
2.1 Voice of Al-Najah
1.8 BBC
1.4 Al-Ahlam
1.2 Al-Balad
1.0 Al-Jazeera FM
1.0 Angham
18.8 Don't hear any station
13.0 Others
2.3 Don't know
12.2 No answer
* This is an open-ended question, no options were read to the interviewee

Q34. In general, which TV station do you watch the most?*

33.9 MBC 1
9.8 Voice of Palestine
9.0 Al-Jazeera
4.4 Abu Dhabi
3.8 Al-Aqsa
2.8 Panorama Drama
1.5 MBC action
1.0 Iqra'
1.0 Al-Manar
1.4 Don't watch TV
28.2 Others
3.2 No answer
* This is an open-ended question, no options were read to the interviewee

Q35. In general, the news programs of which TV station do you watch to the
most?*

54.2 Al-Jazeera
15.7 Al-Arabeyah
7.8 Voice of Palestine
3.8 Al-Manar
3.3 MBC 1
2.6 Al-Aqsa
1.3 Abu Dhabi
3.7 Don't watch any channel
3.6 Others
0.8 Don't know
3.2 No answer
* This is an open-ended question, no options were read to the interviewee

36. Which soap opera series did you watch the most during the month of
Ramadan?*

57.8 Bab Al-Harah
6.3 Zuhra w azwajha Al-khamsah
3.3 Al-A'ar
2.1 Oush al Dabour
1.9 Ahel al Rayeh
1.6 A'yza atjawaz
1.5 Abu Jantee
1.2 Wara' Al-Shams
7.0 Didn't watch any series
9.9 Others
1.9 Don't know
5.5 No answer
* This is an open-ended question, no options were read to the interviewee

Q37. Did you watch the program "Watan Ala Watar" which was shown on
Palestine TV during the month of Ramadan?

41.0 Yes
57.8 No
1.2 No answer

Q38. What do you think of the program?*

n= 49259.6 Good
30.9 Neither good nor bad
9.1 Bad
0.4 No answer
* This question was only asked to those who answered yes in question 37

Q39. Which political or religious faction do you trust the most?*

40.7 Fatah
13.2 Hamas
2.9 PFLP
2.0 Palestinian National Initiative (Al-Mubadarah)
1.7 Islamic Jihad
1.1 PPP
0.4 DFLP
0.1 FIDA
1.7 Others Islamic factions
30.8 I don't trust any faction
5.4 No answer
* This is an open-ended question, no options were read to the interviewee

Q40. Which Palestinian personality do you trust the most?*

19.0 Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen)
10.8 Ismail Haniyeh
7.5 Marwan Barghouthi
4.8 Salam Fayyad
3.2 Mohamad Dahlan
2.7 Mustafa Barghouthi
2.5 Abu Ammar
1.8 Ahmad Sa'adat
1.0 Khaled Mish'al
6.9 Others
33.1 Don't trust any one
6.7 No answer
* This is an open-ended question, no options were read to the interviewee