Issue of the Palestinian Refugees
In regard to the question: “Do you think that Palestinians – in exchange for
having their own independent state and concluding a peace deal with Israel –
should give up their insistence about the Right of Return, which Israel will
never accept, or not ?”, the striking majority of (89.8%) answered:”No, they
shouldn’t do that even if no peace deal would be concluded”, whilst only
(6.8%) said “Yes, Palestinians should do that”, and (3.4%) said “ I don’t
know”.
And responding to the question: “In case the Palestinian leadership would
waive the Right of Return and accept in exchange for that the monetary
compensation, would you accept that too, or refuse it ?”, (89.5%) said “I
would refuse that”, whilst only (7.3%) said “I would accept that” and (3.2%)
said “I don’t know”.
PCPO Poll No.180 November 2, 2011
The most recent poll prepared by Dr. Nabil Kukali reveals that:
(90.7%) of the Palestinians, seven years after the departure of the late
President Yassir Arafat, are still missing him.
(63.4%) are dissatisfied with the attitude of Hamas towards its support /
not support of President Mahmoud Abbas at the United Nations.
(81.7%) rated the performance of President Mahmoud Abbas at the United
Nations at good and very good.
(82.3%) view the Israeli Palestinians (those living in Israel proper since
1948) as part of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
(47.9%) do not see a definite role for the Israeli Palestinians in the
negotiation process with Israel.
(89.5%) refuse to waive the right of return and to accept in exchange for
that monetary compensation.
(68.2%) oppose the resolution of the Ministry of Higher Education to the
effect of not approving university certificates of the students, who
obtained in the General Certificate of the Secondary Education (Tawjihi) an
average less than (65.0%).
(33.9%) support the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority in case of
failing to obtain a full-member seat at the UN.
Beit Sahour – Public Relations Office:
The most recent poll prepared by Dr. Nabil Kukali, conducted by the
Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (www.pcpo.org) during the period from
October 4 till 18, 2011, covered a random sample of (1008) Palestinian
respondents representing the various demographic specimens of adult
Palestinians (18 years and above) living in the west Bank, including East
Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. It revealed that (90.7%) of the Palestinian
public still miss Late president Yassir Arafat seven years after his
departure.
Dr. Kukali
Dr. Kukali, in his capacity as President of the Palestinian Center for
Public Opinion, said that a striking majority of the Palestinians still hang
on the leadership of the late president due to his patriotic attitudes and
his clinging to the Palestinian constants, on which almost all Palestinians
agree with him, regardless of their political inclinations or affiliations.
Dr. Kukali further added that four out of five Palestinians rated the
performance of President Mahmoud Abbas at the United Nations very positively
(good to very good). This appreciation came not only from his supporters and
followers, but from the overwhelming majority of the Palestinian public, as
they view that he has gone to the UN as a President and came back as a
glorious leader of the nation. Dr. Kukali warned of the ominous consequences
in case the Palestinian bid to recognize Palestine as the state # 194 at the
United Nations would not be approved. The poll results, he said, clearly
show that the Palestinians are clinging to their rights of establishing
their own state, otherwise they would support the dissolution of the
Palestinian Authority as to place the international community before their
obligations.
Dr. Kukali has stated that the Palestinian people wish to achieve the just
and comprehensive peace, which should be based on mutual respect and the
recognition of the rights of all parties. The outcome of the poll, he said,
clearly shows that the majority of the Palestinians reject the outbreak of a
third Intifada as they certainly aspire to achieve peace, stability and
socio-economic welfare.
Regarding the recent resolution of the Ministry of Higher Education, Dr.
Kukali mentioned that the majority of the Palestinian public opposes the
decision, since the average rating of the GCE is generally not considered by
pedagogic experts as the right measure for academic qualification and
proficiency. The ministry, he said, can make examinations for university
graduates and thereby judge their qualification and standard. Add thereto,
the evaluation methods of the students during their secondary school must be
revised, he said, as to meet the era' requirements.
Departure of the leader Yassir Arafat
Responding to the question: “Seven years after the departure of Late Yassir
Arafat, do you feel that you miss him or not ?”, (60.3%) said “Yes, I
strongly miss him”, (30.4%) “I somewhat miss him”, (7.1%) “I don’t miss him
so much”, (1.5%) “I don’t miss him at all” and (0.7%) said “ I don’t know”.
Israeli Palestinians (Palestinians living in Israel proper since 1948)
With regard to the question: “Are you strongly satisfied, satisfied,
somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, dissatisfied or strongly
dissatisfied with the efforts of the Israeli Palestinians regarding their
support for the establishment of the Palestinian State ?”, (18.5%) answered
“ I’m strongly satisfied”, (36.8%) said “I’m satisfied”, (28.5%) “somewhat
satisfied”, (9.5%) “somewhat dissatisfied”, (2.5%) “dissatisfied”, (2.4%)
“strongly dissatisfied” and (1.8%) answered “I don’t know”.
And regarding the question:” Do you view the Israeli Palestinians as part of
the Palestinian-Israeli conflict or do you view them in a different way ?”,the
overwhelming majority, specifically (82.3%), answered “I view them as part
of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict” , whilst only (14.1%) said they "view
them in a different way", and (3.6%) said “ I don’t know”.
And responding to the question:”Do you see a definite role for the
Palestinian minority in Israel in the negotiation process ?”, (45.7%)
answered “Yes”, (47.9%) “No” and (6.4%) said “I don’t know”.
Performance of the PA-President at the United Nations
In respect of the question: “ How would you rate the performance of the
PA-President Mahmoud Abbas during his mission at the United Nations ?”,
(66.5%) of the Palestinian answered “very good”, (15.2%) “somewhat good”,
(8.2%) “not so much good”, (8.3%) “not good at all” and (1.8%) said “ I don’t
know”.
Hamas attitude towards the PA-President Mahmoud Abbas
With respect to the question:”Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with Hamas’
attitude towards supporting / not supporting the PA-President, Mahmoud
Abbas, at the United Nations during the 66th session of the UNGA last
September ?”, (63.4%) answered “I’m not satisfied”, (32.5%) “satisfied” and
(4.1%) said “ I don’t know”.
A third Intifada
Responding to the question:”In case the Palestinian National Authority fails
to achieve a seat at the UN as the UN-member # 194, would you then be in
favor of an outbreak of a third Intifada, or not ?”, (58.2%) said “I oppose
a third Intifada”, (39.1%) said “I would be in favor of a third Intifada”
and (2.7%) said “I don’t know”.
The confidence in the leadership of Fatah and Hamas
“Some people have confidence in the political leadership of Hamas, others in
the political leadership of Fatah and some people have no confidence in both
leaderships, which of these three categories is the closest to you ?”(56.5%)
said they have confidence in Fatah leadership, (17.7%) have confidence in
Hamas leadership, (23.8%) said “I have no confidence in both leaderships”,
and (2.0%) said “I don’t know”.
Optimism and pessimism
Regarding the question:” In case the Palestinians’ efforts fail to obtain a
seat of full membership at the UN, would you then be more optimist or
pessimist than in the past for reaching an agreement about a final solution
between Israel and the Palestinians ?”, (16.1%) answered “I would be more
optimist than in the past”, (32.7%) said “my optimism wouldn’t change”,
(24.6%) said” I would stay as pessimist as in the past”, (23.9%) “I would be
more pessimist than in the past “ and (2.7%) answered “I don’t know”.
Resolution of the Ministry of Higher Education
Responding to the question:”Do you support or oppose the resolution of the
Ministry of Higher Education to the effect of not approving university
certificates of the students, who obtained in the General Certificate of
the Secondary Education (Tawjihi) an average less than (65%) ?”, (68.2%)
answered “I oppose that”, (30.6%) “I support that” and (1.2%) said “ I don’t
know”.
Performance of the PA-President
(55.7%) of the Palestinians said that they are satisfied with the way the
PA-President, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, is performing his duties as President of
the Palestinian Authority, whilst (41.9%) said that they are not satisfied,
and (2.4%) declined to express their opinion.
Issue of the Palestinian Refugees
In regard to the question: “Do you think that Palestinians – in exchange for
having their own independent state and concluding a peace deal with Israel –
should give up their insistence about the Right of Return, which Israel will
never accept, or not ?”, the striking majority of (89.8%) answered:”No, they
shouldn’t do that even if no peace deal would be concluded”, whilst only
(6.8%) said “Yes, Palestinians should do that”, and (3.4%) said “ I don’t
know”.
And responding to the question: “In case the Palestinian leadership would
waive the Right of Return and accept in exchange for that the monetary
compensation, would you accept that too, or refuse it ?”, (89.5%) said “I
would refuse that”, whilst only (7.3%) said “I would accept that” and (3.2%)
said “I don’t know”.
Resumption of the Peace Negotiations
Responding to the question: “In general, do you support or oppose the
resumption of the peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the
Israelis under the present conditions ?”, (16.0%) said “ I support”, (45.9%)
said “between both alternatives” (they are undecided yet), (32.9%) said “ I
oppose” and (5.2%) said “I don’t know”.
And asked to respond to the question: “Which of the following ways or
options, according to your opinion, is the best for ending the occupation
and establishing a Palestinian state: a) the negotiations up to the reaching
of a deal between the Palestinians and the Israelis, (b) the non-violent
resistance (peaceful popular demos), (c) working along with/ through the
United Nations, (d) to hold an international conference that is authorized
to impose a solution on all parties concerned, (e) violence, military
actions, or (f) otherwise ?”, (17.6%) said “the negotiations up to the
reaching of a deal between the Palestinians and the Israelis”, (20.9%) “the
non-violent resistance (peaceful popular demos)”, (23.4%) said “working
along with and through the United Nations”, (17.9%) said “by holding an
international conference that is authorized to impose a solution on all
parties concerned”, (5.5%) said “violence, military actions”, (10.5%)
“otherwise”, and (4.2%) said “ I don’t know”.
Peace between Palestinians and Israelis
With respect to the question:”Now think of the future when your child
becomes your age. Do you think there would be at that time peace between the
Israelis and the Palestinians ?”, (12.0%) answered “yes, definitely”,
(15.1%) “it’s most likely”, (28.4%) “it’s possible”, (27.7%) “it’s unlikely”,
(15.8%) “definitely no” and (0.9%) said “ I don’t know”.
Options in case the Palestinians’ efforts fail to obtain UN full membership
Responding to the question: “ Assuming that the Palestinians’ efforts to
achieve a full member seat at the UN fail, which of the following options
you think is likely to take place to handle the Palestinian affairs, a)
dissolution of the Palestinian Authority and placing the international
community before the liabilities of the legal vacuum that would result from
the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority and administering the
resistance through the Palestinian factions, b) unilateral declaration of a
Palestinian state and escalation of the resistance, c) keeping the status of
the Palestinian Authority as it’s now, but developing new strategies for a
better handling of the Palestinian issues ?”, (33.9%) said “option (a)”,
(29.9%) “option (b)”, (20.3%) incline to “option (c)” and (15.9%) said “I
don’t know”.
Methodology of the Survey Study:
Miss Rana Kukali, a staff member of the Research and Studies' Section at the
PCPO, said that all interviews of this survey were conducted inside the
respondents' homes, i.e. face-to-face during different working hours, at
least 5 hours a day, including the evening time, in order to ensure proper
representation of those sub-groups of the population, which would otherwise
be difficult to reach and selecting one individual in each household using
Last Birthday Method. The choices were taken from a total of (155) election
sites, from which (116) sites are located in West Bank and (39) sites in
Gaza Strip according to the distribution of the Central Election Commission.
These election sites were randomly chosen by using the method of the simple
random sample. These in turn were the beginning of the random sample choice
made from those regions in accordance with PCPO's long experienced
methodology.
Miss Rana Kukali has further established that the margin of error was
(±3.09%) at a significance and confidence levels of (5.0%) and (95%)
respectively. She added that the rate of the female respondents in this
survey was (49.8%) against (50.2%) male respondents. The distribution of the
random sample between the Palestinian two major regions was (64.4%) in the
West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and (35.6%) in Gaza Strip, and
allocated as follows: (52.2%) for the towns, (31.0%) for the villages and
(16.8%) for the camps.
About PCPO:
The Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO) is a leading full service
research institute in Palestine. It is a member of the Founding Team of the
Arabic Network for Public Opinion Polls in Cairo / Egypt, associate member
of Gallup International Association (GIA) & Worldwide Independent Network
(WIN) and a member of the World Association for Public Opinion Research
(WAPOR) – U.S.A. The PCPO was founded in February 1994 in Beit Sahour by Dr.
Nabil Kukali; the president of PCPO.
PCPO is dedicated mainly to the following activities:
1) To conduct public opinion surveys.
2) To implement Omnibus polls and services.
3) To carry out market studies on all kinds of trading activities.
4) To gauge consumer attitudes, consumption habits, and market shares
through surveys.
5) To do communication researches.
6) To conduct focus group sessions and workshops on various topics
7) To render services in the field of investment, including feasibility
studies.
8) To conduct in-depth interviews & brainstorming workshops.
9) To provide translation services from Arabic into English, German & Hebrew
and vice-versa.
PCPO is now a name for reliability, credibility, competence and experience
not only in Palestine, but all over the world.
Contact Persons: Dr. Nabil Kukali & Rana Kukali
Tel: 00970 2 277 4846, Fax: 00970 2 277 4892
Mobile: 00970 599 726 878
P.O. Box 15, Beit Sahour - Palestine
Email: dr.kukali@pcpo.org
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