An-Najah National University
Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies
Tel: (972) (9) 2345113 Fax: (972)(9) 2345982
Nablus – Palestinian: P.O. Box 7, 707
Email: Polls@najah.edu hussein596@yahoo.com

Results of Palestinian Public Opinion Poll
No. 44
6-8 April 2012

The Results
Following are the results of the Palestinian Public Opinion Poll no. 44
conducted by the Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies at An-Najah
National University during the period from 6-8 April 2012. The University
sponsors all polls conducted by its Center.

The sample included 1361 persons whose age group is 18 and above and who
have the right to vote. The enclosed questionnaire was distributed on 800
persons from the West Bank and 500 persons from the Gaza Strip. The sample
was drawn randomly and the margin of error is about ±3%; still 2.7% of the
members of the sample refused to answer the questionnaire.

The General Results of the Poll

What do you think of the agreement that was signed at Doha between President
Mahmoud Abbas and Mr. Khalid Mishal to end the Palestinian division?
Total
It will succeed 31.6
It will fail 61.3
No opinion/I do not know 7.1
Total 100.0

Do you think that the agreement that was signed at Doha between President
Mahmoud Abbas and Mr. Khalid Mishal to end the Palestinian division is
feasible for implementation on the ground?
Total
Yes 31.7
No 62.1
No opinion/I do not know 6.2
Total 100.0

In your opinion, who is directly responsible for deferring the
implementation of the reconciliation agreement that was signed between Fateh
and Hamas?
Total
Fateh 12.3
Hamas 38.0
Others 38.6
No opinion/I do not know 11.2
Total 100.0

Do you think that there are Arab countries that endeavor to prevent the
implementation of the Palestinian reconciliation agreement signed in Doha?
Total
Yes 59.7
No 32.2
No opinion/I do not know 8.1
Total 100.0

Which party would benefit most from preventing the implementation of the
reconciliation agreement?
Total
Fateh 16.3
Hamas 37.9
Others 37.6
No opinion/I do not know 8.2
Total 100.0

There are those who say that Fateh movement is not concerned with the
implementation of the reconciliation agreement that was signed in Doha and
there are those who say that it is Hamas. In your opinion which party is not
concerned?
Total
Fateh 10.4
Hamas 35.9
Both factions 45.0
No opinion/I do not know 8.7
Total 100.0

Are you optimistic or pessimistic towards the chances of implementing the
reconciliation agreement in the near future?
Total
Optimistic 38.1
Pessimistic 57.2
No opinion/I do not know 4.7
Total 100.0

Do you think that the sides of the Palestinian dialogue, particularly Fateh
and Hamas, are really concerned with ending the Palestinian division?
Total
Yes 43.3
No 43.3
I am not concerned 10.0
No opinion/I do not know 3.5
Total 100.0

If the reconciliation agreement were implemented, how would that affect you
personally?
Total
Positively 58.9
Negatively 7.2
No effect 32.5
No opinion/I do not know 1.5
Total 100.0

Do you think that hindering the implementation agreement is caused by some
interests of some decision makers such as---?
Total
Personal interests 41.1
The interests of their parties and factions 33.7
Regional interests 20.1
No opinion/I do not know 5.1
Total 100.0

What do you think the cause of delaying the implementation of the
reconciliation agreement is?
Total
Arab pressures on some sides 13.0
Regional pressure on some sides 25.1
Factional interests of Fateh and Hamas 25.7
Personal economic interests 8.7
Personal political interests 22.9
No opinion/I do not know 4.6
Total 100.0

Do you think that the implementation of the reconciliation agreement will
hinder or support the peace process?
Total
It will hinder peace process 34.6
It will support the peace process 40.9
It will not have any effect 21.4
No opinion/I do not know 3.1
Total 100.0

In your opinion which side or activity is most capable internally to end the
Palestinian division?
Total
Going down to the streets for sit ins in the West Bank and Gaza 57.5
Pressure from Palestinian organizations and movements 21.2
Pressure from trade unions 4.7
Pressure from civil society organizations 8.7
No opinion/I do not know 7.9
Total 100.0

In your opinion, which of the following is the most powerful method to solve
the problem of the Palestinian division?
Total
Foreign political pressure 17.2
Arab political pressure 15.7
Pressure from the Palestinian public 64.4
No opinion/I do not know 2.8
Total 100.0

How do you think the Palestinian reconciliation can be achieved?
Total
By intervention from Arab countries to narrow down differences in the points
of view of Fateh and Hamas 11.8
Only by internal Palestinian dialogue 25.4
Both of the above 58.6
No opinion/I do not know 4.2
Total 100.0

Do you think the “Arab Spring� will hinder or speed up the Palestinian
reconciliation?
Total
It will speed up reconciliation 33.0
It will hinder reconciliation 24.2
It has no effect 36.1
No opinion/I do not know 6.7
Total 100.0

In your opinion which party (Fateh or Hamas) thinks that the “Arab Spring�
serves its interest most and achieves its conditions to end the division?
Total
Fateh 13.3
Hamas 24.5
Both equally 30.7
None of them 24.4
No opinion/I do not know 7.1
Total 100.0

Do you think that the Arab and international circumstances necessitate
implementing a national reconciliation between Fateh and Hamas?
Total
Yes 69.6
No 25.9
No opinion/I do not know 4.5
Total 100.0

In the Doha agreement, the two parties agreed on forming a reconciliation
government from among the experts, do you support or reject the formation of
such government?
Total
I support 79.9
I reject 15.1
No opinion/I do not know 4.9
Total 100.0

In your opinion which side is hindering the formation of a national
reconciliation government?
Total
Fateh 11.3
Hamas 38.2
Other sides 42.6
No opinion/I do not know 7.9
Total 100.0

In order for the reconciliation agreement to succeed and be implemented,
which participants do you think should be involved in the government to be
formed?
Total
Members from Fateh and Hamas 6.5
Independent qualified members 56.0
Qualified members from Fateh and Hamas 33.5
No opinion/I do not know 4.0
Total 100.0

It is known that the PA is facing a huge financial deficit because some Arab
countries did not give the financial support that the Arab summit
conferences approved and because aids from some foreign countries were
stopped. In your opinion how can the financial deficit be reduced?
Total
Yes No No opinion
/I do not know Total
38.6 58.9 2.4 Turning some employees to early retirement
9.0 90.0 1.0 Increasing taxes and imposing new ones
61.2 36.5 2.3 Going back to peace talks so that foreign aid can be
resumed
88.1 10.0 1.9 Asking Arab countries to pay the financial dues that
they committed themselves to
West Bank
Yes No No opinion
/I do not know Total
40.8 57.7 1.5 Turning some employees to early retirement
8.4 91.4 0.2 Increasing taxes and imposing new ones
62.5 35.9 1.6 Going back to peace talks so that foreign aid can be
resumed
88.5 10.8 0.7 Asking Arab countries to pay the financial dues that
they committed themselves to
Gaza Strip
Yes No No opinion
/I do not know Total
35.0 61.0 4.0 Turning some employees to early retirement
10.2 87.6 2.2 Increasing taxes and imposing new ones
59.0 37.6 3.4 Going back to peace talks so that foreign aid can be
resumed
87.4 8.6 4.0 Asking Arab countries to pay the financial dues that
they committed themselves to pay

Salam Fayyad’s government announced a series of procedures to reduce the
deficit in the general budget of the PA. Which of the following procedures
do you support or reject?
Total
I support I reject No opinion
/I do not know Total
9.6 88.8 1.6 Raising income tax
39.2 58.8 2.1 Early retirement to employees who spent more than 15
years in their jobs
23.4 74.4 2.1 Limiting new employments
76.1 18.1 5.8 Regulating the appointment of councilors according to
the new civil service law.
87.5 10.7 1.8 Regulating the use of government vehicles
85.2 11.8 3.0 Reducing travel allowances and travel per diem
52.3 42.8 4.8 Stopping supervision allowances and allowances given
to hazardous jobs
West Bank
I support I reject No opinion
/I do not know Total
8.0 91.4 0.6 Raising income tax
44.1 54.8 1.0 Early retirement to employees who spent more than 15
years in their jobs
23.1 75.1 1.7 Limiting new employments
80.5 15.1 4.4 Regulating the appointment of councilors according to
the new civil service law.
92.2 7.2 0.6 Regulating the use of government vehicles
88.5 9.8 1.7 Reducing travel allowances and travel per diem
56.2 39.4 4.4 Stopping supervision allowances and allowances given
to hazardous jobs
Gaza Strip
I support I reject No opinion
/I do not know
12.2 84.4 3.4 Raising income tax
30.6 65.6 3.8 Early retirement to employees who spent more than 15
years in their jobs
24.0 73.2 2.8 Limiting new employments
68.6 23.2 8.2 Regulating the appointment of councilors according to
the new civil service law.
79.4 16.6 4.0 Regulating the use of government vehicles
79.6 15.2 5.2 Reducing travel allowances and travel per diem
45.6 48.8 5.6 Stopping supervision allowances and allowances given
to hazardous jobs

What do you think increasing the income tax on the private sector according
to the new financial policy of Dr. Salam Fayyad’s government will lead to?
Total
Yes No No opinion
/I do not know Total
26.5 67.9 5.6 Increasing investment
63.4 30.2 6.4 Drainage of funds outside
61.2 32.3 6.5 Increase in tax revenues
76.8 18.2 5.0 Increase in unemployment
West Bank
Yes No No opinion
/I do not know Total
24.0 71.4 4.5 Increasing investment
71.0 25.3 3.7 Drainage of funds outside
63.8 31.2 5.0 Increase in tax revenues
84.8 13.1 2.1 Increase in unemployment
Gaza Strip
Yes No No opinion
/I do not know Total
30.8 61.8 7.4 Increasing investment
50.4 38.6 11.0 Drainage of funds outside
56.8 34.0 9.2 Increase in tax revenues
63.0 27.0 10.0 Increase in unemployment

There is a current on-going talk relating to defining the minimum wage in
Palestine. In your opinion what should the minimum wage be?
Mean
West Bank 2513.4
Gaza Strip 2168.3
Total 2386.6

Do you consider yourself optimistic or pessimistic towards the success of
the peace process between the Palestinian Authority and Israel?
Total
Optimistic 28.4
Pessimistic 67.2
No opinion/I do not know 4.4
Total 100.0

If presidential elections are held in the present time, to whom from among
the following do you give your vote?
Total
An independent candidate 11.2
A candidate from the left 3.3
A candidate from Hamas 8.4
A candidate from Fateh 31.7
A national independent candidate 6.0
An Islamic independent candidate 3.4
I will not participate in the elections 20.1
I have not decided yet 15.9
Total 100.0

West Bank
An independent candidate 13.2
A candidate from the left 3.6
A candidate from Hamas 7.8
A candidate from Fateh 26.6
A national independent candidate 6.2
An Islamic independent candidate 2.8
I will not participate in the elections 20.1
I have not decided yet 19.7
Total 100.0
Gaza Strip
An independent candidate 7.6
A candidate from the left 2.8
A candidate from Hamas 9.4
A candidate from Fateh 40.6
A national independent candidate 5.8
An Islamic independent candidate 4.4
I will not participate in the elections 20.0
I have not decided yet 9.4
Total 100.0

If Presidential elections are conducted, name the person that you will vote
for as president of the PA.
Total
Ahmas Saadat 2.3
Ahmad Qura' 0.4
Ismael Hanyia 8.8
Altayeb Abdulrahim 0.2
Amin Maqbol 0.1
Basam Alsalhy 0.4
Tayseer Khalid 0.1
Gebreal Alrjoub 0.4
Jamal Al-Kudari 0.7
Khalid Albatsh 0.1
Khalid Mishal 1.9
Ramadan Shalah 0.7
Salam Fayyad 5.0
Sa’ib Erikat 3.1
Abbas Zaki 0.1
Abdulrahim Mallooh 0.5
Adly Yaesh 0.2
Aziz Dweek 0.2
Isam Abu Baker 0.1
Ghasan Alshaka' 0.1
Mazin Sunqrot 0.1
Mohamed Dahlan 0.9
Mahmoud Zahar 0.7
Mahmoud Al-Alool 0.3
Mahmoud Abbas 41.3
Marwan Bargouthi 15.9
Mustafa Barguothi 1.6
Munib Al-Masri 2.1
Nase EdDean Alsha'er 0.1
Yaser Abed Raboh 0.1
I do not Know 3.9
No one 7.9
Total 100.0

Which one of the following will you vote for in case they run for the
position of the president of the PA?
Total
Mahmoud Abbas 42.0
Ismael Hanyia 9.7
Marwan Bargouthi 18.3
Salam Fayyad 5.4
Khalid Mishal 2.5
Ahmad Qurai’ 0.4
Ramadan Shallah 0.9
Sa’ib Erikat 3.2
Ahmad Sa’adat 2.7
Mahmoud Zahar 1.0
Mustafa Barguothi 1.8
Bassam Al-Salihi 0.5
Jamal Al-Kudari 0.7
Munib Al-Masri 2.3
Al-Tayyb Abdulrahim 0.2
Abbas Zaki 0.1
Jebril Al-Rujub 0.7
Mahmoud Al-Alool 0.3
Abdulrahim Mallooh 0.5
Tayseer Khalid 0.3
None of the above 6.4
Total 100.0

If President Mahmoud Abbas does not run for the position of the President of
the PA and the following persons run, which one of them will you vote for?
Total
Ismael Hanyia 9.4
Marwan Bargouthi 40.8
Salam Fayyad 10.9
Khalid Mishal 2.9
Ahmad Qurai’ 0.8
Ramadan Shallah 1.0
Sa’ib Erikat 7.1
Ahmad Sa’adat 2.7
Mahmoud Zahar 1.0
Mustafa Barguothi 1.5
Bassam Al-Salihi 0.6
Jamal Al-Kudari 0.7
Munib Al-Masri 2.7
Al-Tayyb Abdulrahim 1.3
Abbas Zaki 0.4
Jebril Al-Rujub 1.0
Mahmoud Al-Alool 2.1
Abdulrahim Mallooh 0.7
Tayseer Khalid 0.2
None of the above 12.0
Total 100.0

If new PLC elections are conducted, whom will you vote for?
Total
An independent ticket 10.8
A ticket from the left 3.4
A ticket from Hamas 9.9
A ticket from Fateh 35.0
A national independent ticket 6.2
An Islamic independent ticket 4.5
I will not participate in the elections 16.7
I have not decided yet 13.5
Total 100.0
West Bank
An independent ticket 12.8
A ticket from the left 3.6
A ticket from Hamas 9.4
A ticket from Fateh 30.2
A national independent ticket 6.3
An Islamic independent ticket 3.9
I will not participate in the elections 17.8
I have not decided yet 16.0
Total 100.0
Gaza Strip
An independent ticket 7.4
A ticket from the left 3.0
A ticket from Hamas 10.8
A ticket from Fateh 43.2
A national independent ticket 6.2
An Islamic independent ticket 5.4
I will not participate in the elections 14.8
I have not decided yet 9.2
Total 100.0

If new legislative elections are to be held today, which of the following
will win?
Total
Independent Islamists bloc 4.6
Independent Nationalist bloc 10.9
Fateh bloc 47.7
Hamas bloc 15.0
A bloc from leftist organizations 2.3
No opinion/I do not know 19.5
Total 100.0

If municipality and local council elections are to be held, who do you vote
for?
Total
A block that represents the family or clan 8.5
An independent ticket 9.8
A ticket from the left 2.6
A ticket from Hamas 9.5
A ticket from Fateh 29.4
A national independent ticket 6.8
An Islamic independent ticket 3.8
I will not participate in the elections 15.7
I have not decided yet 13.9
Total 100.0

If elections are conducted in the Palestinian Territories at the present
time, do you expect that they will be fair and unbiased?
Total
Yes 51.2
No 41.5
No opinion/I do not know 7.3
Total 100.0

What do you think the reason is behind Hamas’ refusal to conduct electoral
registration in the Gaza Strip?
Total
Fear of not winning in the next elections 16.3
Reluctance to conclude a reconciliation agreement 12.4
Both of the above 53.9
No opinion/I do not know 17.4
Total 100.0

Do the current political, security and economic circumstances compel you to
desire emigrating abroad?
Total
Yes 40.3
No 58.2
No opinion/I do not know 1.5
Total 100.0
West Bank
Yes 31.7
No 67.7
No opinion/I do not know 0.6
Total 100.0
Gaza Strip
Yes 55.2
No 41.8
No opinion/I do not know 3.0
Total 100.0

Are you worried about your life under the present circumstances?
Total
Yes 50.2
No 48.3
No opinion/I do not know 1.5
Total 100.0

Are you pessimistic or optimistic towards the general Palestinian situation
at this stage?
Total
Optimistic 29.2
Pessimistic 68.0
No opinion/I do not know 2.8
Total 100.0

Under the present circumstances, do you feel that you, your family and your
properties are safe?
Total
Yes 23.2
May be 35.3
No 40.5
No opinion/I do not know 1.0
Total 100.0

Which of the following political affiliations do you support?
PARTY Total
People’s Party 0.7
Democratic Front 0.8
Islamic Jihad 2.4
Fateh 39.8
Hamas 10.9
Fida 0.1
Popular Front 3.2
Palestinian National Initiative 0.6
I am an independent nationalist 7.9
I am an independent Islamist 3.1
None of the above 29.7
Others 0.6
Total 100.0