Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre
POBox: 25047 Jerusalem
Tel: 02-2976555 Fax: 02-2976557
Email: poll@jmcc.org Website: www.jmcc.org

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Jerusalem Office
Tel.: +972-2-532 83 98 Fax: +972-2-581 96 65
Email: info@fespal.org Web: www.fespal.org

Poll No. 84 August 2015

Public opinion poll conducted by the Jerusalem Media and Communication
Centre
http://www.jmcc.org/documentsandmaps.aspx?id=869

Methodology:

A random sample of 1199 people over the age of 18 was interviewed
face-to-face throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip between 19-23 August
2015. In the West Bank 749 people were surveyed. In the Gaza Strip : 450
people were surveyed. The margin of error is ±3 percent, with a confidence
level of 95%.

Results:

Q1. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly
disagree with peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis?
Strongly agree 16.0
Somewhat agree 39.4
Somewhat disagree 19.8
Strongly disagree 22.8
I don’t know \ no answer 2.0

Q2. 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?
Two-state solution: a Palestinian and an Israeli state 44.0
Bi-national state on all of historic Palestine 21.3
Others 1.3
No solution 14.4
Palestinian state * 17.3
Islamic state * 1.1
I don’t know \ no answer 0.6
* 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 20.4
Somewhat satisfied 32.0
Somewhat dissatisfied 13.8
Very dissatisfied 31.2
No answer 2.6

Q4. In general, how do you evaluate the performance of the PNA? Would you
say its performance is very good, good, bad or very bad?
Very good 12.5
Good 44.9
Bad 25.4
Very bad 16.0
No answer 1.2

Q5- In your opinion, which of the following topics should be a priority for
the PNA?
Health 5.3
Education 10.4
Cost of living 27.4
Settler attacks 14.8
Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip 21.4
Enforcing the law 20.3
I don’t know \ no answer 0.4

Q6- There is a debate on the future of the PNA whereby some people believe
that dissolving the PNA is necessary now while others believe that the
perpetuation of the PNA and maintaining it is a necessity. What do you
think?
Dissolving the PNA is necessary 23.7
Perpetuating and maintaining the PNA is a necessity 71.7
I don’t know \ no answer 4.6

Q7.Do you think that Prime Minister Dr. Rami Al-Hamdallah is doing a good,
average, or a bad job as a Prime Minister ?
Good 24.6
Average 37.6
Bad 30.8
I don’t know \ no answer 7.0

Q8- In general, do you think the performance of the current government
headed by Rami al-Hamdallah is better when compared to previous
governments? Didn’t change, or become worse?
It’s performance has become better 23.1
Didn’t change 43.3
It’s performance has become worse 26.4
I don’t know \ no answer 7.2

Q9- To what extent do you think that Al Hamdallah’s government is being
transparent in handling the financial issues? To a very high degree, high
degree, average degree, low degree or very low degree?
To a very high degree 4.0
High degree 13.3
Average 30.8
Low degree 19.8
Very low degree 18.8
I don’t know \ no answer 13.3

Q10- Recently, a government reshuffle took place in which five new ministers
were added to
Dr. Rami Hamdallah’s government. What do you think? Will this reshuffle be a
positive step that serves the interests of the Palestinian people? Will it
not serve their interests? Or will it make no difference either way?
ll serve the interests of the Palestinian people 34.9
It will not serve the interests of the Palestinian people 15.2
It will not make a difference either way 44.3
I don’t know \ no answer 5.6

Q11- According to the basic Law, the legislative and presidential elections
should have been held four years ago. Do you prefer holding elections soon
under any circumstances, or do you prefer holding elections only after
reconciliation is completed?
Prefer holding elections soon under any circumstances 58.9
Prefer holding elections only after reconciliation is completed 35.8
I don’t know 4.2
No answer 1.1

Q12- Do you think it is or is not important for PLC elections to be held?
Important 82.9
Not Important 13.7
I don’t know 2.8
No answer 0.6

Q13- If PLC elections were held today, to which party would you vote for?
Hamas, Fatah, or other parties?
Hamas 20.2
Fatah 41.1
Other parties 9.8
Won’t vote 22.7
No answer 6.2

Q14- Do you think it is or is not important for Presidential elections to be
held?
Important 81.5
Not Important 14.0
I don’t know 3.2
No answer 1.3

Q15- If presidential elections were to take place today and Mahmoud Abbas
(abu Mazen) would not run again, whom would you vote for?
Marwan Al-Barghouthi 10.5
Isma’el Haniyeh 9.8
Mohamad Dahlan 5.1
Sa’eb E’riqat 3.3
Khaled Mish’al 3.3
Others 18.6
I don’t know 33.6
No answer 15.8

Q16- Do you think it is important or not important for National Council
elections to be held?
Important 74.0
Not Important 16.9
I don’t know \ no answer 9.1

Q17- Do you think it important or not important for student union elections
to be held?
Important 74.1
Not Important 18.3
I don’t know \ no answer 7.6

Q18- To what extent do you think ISIS has a presence in the Gaza Strip?
Total/West Bank/Gaza
Large presence 2.2/2.0/2.4
Moderate presence 10.6/6.5/17.3
Small presence 32.0/25.4/43.1
No presence 46.3/52.7/35.6
No answer 8.9/13.4/1.6

Q19- How sympathetic are you with the Salafist movements opposed to Hamas’
authority in the Gaza Strip? Would you say you are very sympathetic,
moderately sympathetic or unsympathetic?
Very sympathetic 3.8
Moderately sympathetic 17.8
Unsympathetic 64.9
No answer 13.5

Q20- Recently, there has been a growing presence of the Salafist movement
opposed to Hamas in the Gaza Strip. How strong is this movement in Gaza?
Would you say it is very strong, moderately strong or has little strength?

Total/West Bank/Gaza
Very strong 2.8/3.2/2.2
Moderately strong 17.5/14.6/22.4
Little strength 60.3/53.4/71.8
No answer 19.4/28.8/3.6

Q21- In your opinion, which side should be more blamed for the persisting
division and the failure of efforts pertinent between Fatah and Hamas?
Hamas movement 21.3
Fatah movement 12.4
Hamas and Fatah 24.0
Israel 33.4
Other 3.2
I don’t know \ no answer 5.7

Q22. After the war over Gaza Strip, who do you think is the winning side?
Israel, Hamas, Israel and Hamas, or neither Israel nor Hamas?
Total/West Bank/Gaza
Israel 15.0/10.1/23.1
Hamas 40.0/44.2/33.1
Israel and Hamas 2.7/2.9/2.2
Neither Israel nor Hamas 37.4/36.8/38.2
I don’t know \ no answer 4.9/6.0/3.4

Q23- Do you think that a truce will be reached between Hamas and Israel?
Total/West Bank/Gaza
Yes 45.0/36.4/59.1
No 40.7/45.7/32.4
I don’t know \ no answer 14.3/17.9/8.5

Q24- In general, is religion an important part of your life?
Yes 94.1
No 5.8
No answer 0.1

Q25- Have you perforemd al Umra (a pilgrimage to Mecca performed by Muslims
that can be undertaken at any time of the year?
Yes 31.1
No 68.1
No answer 0.8

Q26- Did you fast during the month of Ramadan?
Most of the days or all of the days 93.2
A few days 5.1
I did not fast 0.9
No answer 0.8

Q27- During the month of Ramadan, did you perform all religious prayers?
I prayed all days 85.4
I prayed only on Fridays 8.8
I did not pray 5.8

Q28- How would you define yourself- only in one word- in terms of
particular affiliation?
Palestinian 32.4
Religious 7.4
Arab 3.0
Muslim 16.8
Fatah 6.8
Patriotic 5.4
Hamas 2.7
Others 18.8
I don’t know \ no answer 6.7
* This is an open-ended question no options were read to the interviewee

Q29- Currently, there are several attempts at boycotting Israeli products in
Palestinian markets. Which of the following do you support most?
Total/West Bank/Gaza
I support boycotting all Israeli products 49.1/52.1/44.2
I support boycotting settlement products only 9.4/9.6/9.1
I support boycotting products with an alternative 15.2/14.0/17.1
I support boycotting settlement products and products with an alternative
12.4/14.0/9.8
I don’t support boycotting Israeli product 10.6/7.3/16.0
I don’t know \ no answer 3.3/3.0/3.8

Q30- At the personal level, would you say you:
Total/West Bank/Gaza
Boycott all Israeli products 34.1/37.7/28.2
Boycott settlement products only 8.3/9.3/6.7
Boycott products with an alternative 24.9/23.6/26.9
Boycott settlement products and products with an alternative
15.8/16.2/15.1
Don’t support boycotting Israeli products 11.8/8.7/16.9
I don’t know \ no answer 5.1/4.5/6.2

Q31- Which Political or religious faction do you trust the most?
Fatah 35.4
Hamas 20.0
PFLP 3.2
Other Islamic factions 3.1
Others 3.5
I don’t trust anyone 29.2
No answer 5.6
*This was an open-ended question no options were read to the interviewee

Q32. Which Palestinian personality do you trust the most?*
Mahmoud Abas ( Abu Mazen) 16.1
Isma’el Haniyeh 12.5
Marwan Al-Barghouthi 7.1
Khaled Misha’l 4.2
Mohamad Dahlan 3.2
Others 16.3
I don’t trust anyone 32.3
No answer 8.3
*This was an open-ended question no options were read to the interviewee