JMCC
POBox: 25047 Jerusalem
Tel: 02-2976555
Fax: 02-2976557
Email: poll@jmcc.org
Website: www.jmcc.org

Poll no. 74 June 2011

A public opinion poll conducted by Jerusalem Media & Communications Center
http://www.jmcc.org/documentsandmaps.aspx?id=832

A random sample of 1198 people over the age of 18 was interviewed
face-to-face throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip between 31st May and
4th June 2011.
The margin of error is ±3 percent, with a confidence level of 95%.

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?
Very optimistic 10.8
Optimistic 63.9
Pessimistic 17.5
Very Pessimistic 7.4
No answer 0.4

Q2. Some believe that a two-state formula is the favored solution for the
Israeli–Palestinian 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?
Two-state solution : an Israeli and a Palestinian State 54.3
Bi-national state on all of historic Palestine 23.8
Palestinian State * 8.3
Islamic State * 1.9
Others 0.4
No solution 8.7
I don’t know 1.7
No answer 0.9
* These answers were not included as part of the options read to the
interviewee

Q3. Are you satisfied or dissatisfied about the way that Mahmoud Abbas (Abu
Mazen) is dealing with his job as a president to the Palestinian National
Authority?
Very satisfied 24.3
Somewhat satisfied 33.5
Somewhat dissatisfied 14.7
Very dissatisfied 25.8
No answer 1.7

Q4. What is your opinion about the performance of the US Administration
headed by President Barack Obama 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?
There has been improvement in the dealings of the United States with the
Middle East problems 9.2
There has been regression in the dealings of the United States with the
Middle East problems 32.6
There has been no change in the United States dealing with the Middle East
problems 56.3
I don’t know 1.8
No answer 0.1

Q5. With regards to the US policy vis-à-vis the Palestinian–Israeli
conflict, do you think the US is biased more towards the Israelis or more
towards the Palestinians or that it is neutral?
Biased more towards the Israelis 91.8
Biased more towards the Palestinians 1.0
Neutral 4.8
I don’t know 2.3
No answer 0.1

Q6. Have you listened to or watched any of Obama’s recent speeches
concerning the Middle East?
Yes 52.1
No 47.9

Q7. Following the two recent important speeches by US president Obama, -a
speech on the Middle East and Africa and a speech at AIPAC conference- do
you feel more optimistic on finding a solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict
or more pessimistic or do you feel that the speeches won’t make any
difference?*
More optimistic on finding a solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict 11.2
More pessimistic on finding a solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict 44.4
It won’t make any difference 43.6
I don’t know 0.6
No answer 0.2
*This question was asked to those who answered that they listened or watched
any of Obama’s speeches

Q8. The various Palestinian factions have recently signed a reconciliation
agreement, do you believe that this is a positive step that serves the
national interests or a negative step that harms the national interests or a
step that won’t make any difference?
A positive step that serves the national interests 79.1
A negative step that harms the national interests 3.8
The step does not make any difference 12.4
I don’t know 2.4
No answer 2.3

Q9. How optimistic or pessimistic do you feel towards the implementation of
the reconciliation agreement that has been signed recently between the
various Palestinian factions? Would you say you are very optimistic,
optimistic, pessimistic, or very pessimistic?
Very optimistic 16.9
Optimistic 64.2
Pessimistic 14.7
Very pessimistic 1.8
No answer 2.4

Q10. The Palestinian people have tried a Fatah–majority government and a
Hamas–majority government, now there is a government with the majority of
its ministers as independent figures, in your opinion and from the past
experiences, which is the government that best serves the interests of the
Palestinian people?
A Fatah–majority government 26.5
A Hamas–majority government 12.5
A government with the majority of its ministers as independent figures
50.8
No answer 10.2

Q11. The reconciliation agreement that has been signed recently between the
Palestinian factions stipulated the formation of a national reconciliation
government consisting of independent competent figures with no presence of
any member of the various political or religious factions. Do you think that
the idea of a government of independent competent figures is a good idea at
the present phase or a bad idea at the current phase?
A good idea at the present phase 76.9
A bad idea at the current phase 13.0
I don’t know 7.6
No answer 2.5

Q12. Who do you think is the most appropriate Palestinian independent figure
to assume the post of PM in the coming national reconciliation government as
stipulated in the reconciliation agreement?*
Salam Fayyad 26.5
Jamal al-Khudaree 5.2
Mustafa al-Barghouthi 3.8
Ismail Hanieh 2.7
Mazen Sunukrut 2.1
Mohamed Abu Shahla 2.0
Muneeb al-Masree 1.7
Mahmoud Abass (Abu Mazen) 1.7
Marwan al-Barghouthi 1.4
Others 7.8
I don’t trust any one 25.9
No answer 19.2
* These answers were not included as part of the options read to the
interviewee

Q13. Recently, reports started coming out about nominations for the PM post
in the national reconciliation government that was agreed upon in the recent
reconciliation agreement, who do you think is the most appropriate from the
following names:
Mohamed Abu Shahla 3.3
Salam Fayyad 44.4
Jamal al-Khudaree 12.3
Mohamed Mustafa 1.8
Mazen Sunukrut 5.3
I don’t know 23.7
No answer 9.2

Q14. The Palestinian leadership announced recently its intention to head to
the UN in September to get UN recognition of an independent Palestinian
State. Do you believe that this is a good step that serves the Palestinian
national interests or a bad step that harms the Palestinian national
interests or a step that won’t make any difference?
A good step that serves the Palestinian national interests 64.6
A bad step that harms the Palestinian national interests 4.6
The step won’t make any difference 25.5
I don’t know 4.2
No answer 1.1

Q15. In case the PLO heads in September to the UN to get recognition of an
independent Palestinian state, how optimistic or pessimistic are you
regarding getting the support of the majority of the world countries?
Very optimistic 10.4
Somewhat optimistic 53.2
Somewhat pessimistic 21.9
Very pessimistic 8.3
I don’t know 5.3
No answer 0.9

Q16. Which political or religious faction do you trust the most?*
Fatah 39.2
Hamas 16.6
PFLP 2.5
Palestinian National Initiative 1.3
Islamic Jihad 1.0
Independents 2.8
Other Islamic Factions 1.7
Others 1.4
Don’t trust any one 28.4
No answer 5.1
* These answers were not included as part of the options read to the
interviewee

Q17. Which Palestinian personality do you trust the most?*
Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) 22.2
Ismail Hanieh 13.6
Marwan al- Barhouthi 6.8
Salam Fayyad 6.3
Mustafa al-Barghouthi 3.0
Ahmad Sa’adat 1.5
Mohammed Dahlan 1.5
Khaled Mash’al 1.3
Mahmoud al-Zahar 1.0
Others 6.7
Don’t trust any one 28.5
No answer 7.6
* These answers were not included as part of the options read to the
interviewee