Palestinian Attitudes on Peace Prospects, Negotiations

Palestinian Attitudes on Peace Prospects

(Updated April 2012)

Public Opinion: Table of Contents | Palestinian Polls | Index of Polls

Despite Israeli rejection to freeze settlement construction or accept the 1967 borders as the basis for negotiations, Palestinian-Israeli exploratory talks were conducted about two months ago in Amman under Jordanian sponsorship. Do you think the President Abbas' decision to participate in these talks was right or wrong? (PSR, March 17, 2012)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Certainly right	4.9%	3.1%	7.9%
right	43.2%	49.1%	33.6%
wrong	32.9%	33.1%	32.5%
certainly wrong	9.6%	6.7%	14.3%
No opinion/Don't know	9.4%	7.9%	11.8%

The Amman exploratory talks have been stopped, but pressure from the international Quartet is mounting on the PA to resume them. Given present conditions, do you support or oppose the resumption of the Amman exploratory talks without an Israeli commitment to return to the 67 borders and to stop construction in the settlements? (PSR, March 17, 2012)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Certainly support	4.2%	3.7%	4.9%
support	31.1%	34.2%	25.9%
oppose	42.1%	45.8%	35.9%
certainly oppose	16.1%	11.9%	23.0%
No opinion/Don't know	6.6%	4.4%	10.2%

What do you expect to happen between Palestinians and Israelis now after the exploratory talks in Amman have stopped? (PSR, March 17, 2012)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
The two sides will return soon to negotiations	25.4%	27.3%	22.2%
The two sides will return to negotiations but some armed attacks will take place	35.7%	32.5%	41.0%
The two sides will not return to negotiations and some armed attacks will take place	18.1%	17.2%	19.7%
The two sides will not return to negotiations and there will be no armed attacks	15.8%	17.6%	12.9%
No opinion/Don't know	4.9%	5.4%	4.3%

Some believe that the two-state solution, an independent Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel, is no longer viable due to settlement expansion while others believe that it is still viable today as settlements can be dismantled or evacuated when an agreement is reached. What do you think? (PSR, March 17, 2012)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Certainly the two-state solution is no longer viable	21.6%	19.2%	25.7%
The two-state solution is no longer viable	36.2%	38.6%	32.3%
The two-state solution remains viable today	26.2%	28.9%	21.7%
Certainly, the two-state solution remains viable today	10.8%	9.7%	12.8%
No opinion/Don't know	5.1%	3.6%	7.6%

Talk has recently increased about the inevitable failure of the two state solution and the need to demand the formulation of a solution based on the establishment of one state in all Palestinian areas and Israel, one in which Arabs and Jews enjoy equality. Do you support or oppose this view? (PSR, March 17, 2012)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Certainly support	5.3%	5.5%	4.8%
support	30.4%	35.1%	22.8%
oppose	41.6%	44.7%	36.5%
certainly oppose	19.4%	12.6%	30.6%
No opinion/Don't know	3.3%	2.1%	5.4%

Now more than 40 years after the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, what in your view are the chances for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state next to the state of Israel in the next five years? Are they high, medium, low, or non existent? (PSR, March 17, 2012)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
non existent	28.2%	30.5%	24.4%
low	39.8%	37.6%	43.3%
medium	26.6%	27.3%	25.5%
high	4.4%	4.1%	5.1%
No opinion/Don't know	1.0%	0.5%	1.7%

To what extent are you worried or not worried that you or a member of your family could be hurt by Israel in your daily life or that your land would be confiscated or home demolished? (PSR, March 17, 2012)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
very worried	34.2%	30.1%	40.8%
worried	42.0%	44.0%	38.6%
not worried	19.0%	21.8%	14.4%
not worried at all	4.6%	4.1%	5.5%
No opinion/Don't know	0.3%	0.0%	0.7%

What do you think are the aspirations of Israel for the long run? (PSR, March 17, 2012)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Withdrawal from the territories it occupied in 1967 after guaranteeing its security	6.5%	5.9%	7.4%
Withdrawal form part of the occupied territories after guaranteeing its security	8.6%	8.5%	8.9%
Annexation of the West Bank while denying political rights of Palestinian citizens	21.1%	18.4%	25.5%
Extending the borders of the state of Israel to cover all the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea and expelling its Arab citizens	62.3%	65.8%	56.7%
No opinion/Don't know	1.5%	1.5%	1.6%

According to the Saudi plan, Israel will retreat from all territories occupied in 1967 including Gaza the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, and a Palestinian state will be established. The refugees problem will be resolved through negotiation in a just and agreed upon manner and in accordance with UN resolution 194 which allows return of refugees to Israel and compensation. In return, all Arab states will recognize Israel and its right to secure borders, will sign peace treaties with her and establish normal diplomatic relations. Do you agree or disagree to this plan? (PSR, March 17, 2012)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
certainly agree	5.7%	3.9%	8.6%
agree	49.9%	49.0%	51.3%
disagree	33.0%	39.4%	22.4%
certainly disagree	9.1%	5.4%	15.2%
No opinion/Don't know	2.3%	2.3%	2.5%

There is a proposal that after the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the settlement of all issues in dispute, including the refugees and Jerusalem issues, there will be a mutual recognition of Israel as the state of the Jewish people and Palestine as the state of the Palestinians people. Do you agree or disagree to this proposal? (PSR, March 17, 2012)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
certainly agree	2.8%	2.1%	4.0%
agree	40.4%	39.6%	41.5%
disagree	40.5%	46.4%	30.8%
certainly disagree	14.8%	10.6%	21.7%
No opinion/Don't know	1.5%	1.3%	2.0%

Now that negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis have stopped, would you support or oppose the following option in the search for achieving Palestinian rights? (PSR, March 17, 2012)

Going to the Security Council to obtain a recognition of a Palestinian state

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
certainly support	21.6%	17.3%	28.6%
support	53.9%	60.7%	42.7%
oppose	19.5%	19.8%	19.1%
certainly oppose	3.9%	1.8%	7.4%
No opinion/Don't know	1.1%	0.4%	2.1%

Unilaterally declare the establishment of a Palestinian state

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
certainly support	12.9%	10.3%	17.1%
support	45.8%	53.4%	33.4%
oppose	33.5%	32.7%	34.9%
certainly oppose	6.1%	2.0%	12.8%
No opinion/Don't know	1.7%	1.6%	1.9%

Abandon the two state solution and demand the establishment of one state for Palestinians and Israelis

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
certainly support	3.8%	2.8%	5.3%
support	25.5%	29.5%	19.0%
oppose	52.0%	58.5%	41.4%
certainly oppose	16.6%	8.1%	30.5%
No opinion/Don't know	2.1%	1.0%	3.8%

Resort to popular non violent and unarmed resistance

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
certainly support	9.3%	6.0%	14.5%
support	51.9%	56.2%	45.0%
oppose	31.9%	34.8%	27.1%
certainly oppose	6.2%	2.8%	11.7%
No opinion/Don't know	0.7%	0.2%	1.6%

Return to the armed intifada and confrontations

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
certainly support	10.3%	4.4%	20.1%
support	27.8%	25.2%	34.6%
oppose	48.8%	60.5%	29.4%
certainly oppose	10.5%	8.8%	13.2%
No opinion/Don't know	1.7%	1.2%	2.7%

Dissolve the Palestinian Authority

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
certainly support	10.5%	8.3%	14.1%
support	29.2%	30.8%	26.7%
oppose	42.2%	49.0%	31.1%
certainly oppose	14.5%	10.1%	21.8%
No opinion/Don't know	3.5%	1.8%	6.3%

There is a proposal that after the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the settlement of all issues in dispute, including the refugees and Jerusalem issues, there will be a mutual recognition of Israel as the state of the Jewish people and Palestine as the state of the Palestinian people. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal? (PSR, January 11, 2012)

Certainly agree	4.5%
Agree	47.8%
Disagree	35.0%
Certainly disagree	11.8%
No opinion/Don't know	0.8%

Now that negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis have stopped, would you support or oppose the following option in the search for achieving Palestinian rights: return to armed intifada and confrontations? (PSR, January 11, 2012)

Certainly support	9.7%
Support	31.4%
Oppose	49.1%
Certainly oppose	8.5%
No opinion/Don't know	1.3%

Do you think that the USA will pursue every possible way that is within its reach to salvage the peace process? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	24.6%
No	69.6%
No opinion/Don't know	5.8%

Do you think that the Palestinian State can only be established through negotiations? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	29.8%
No	64.4%
No opinion/Don't know	5.8%

Do you think that there will be any use from negotiations without acceptable frames of reference and without the freezing of settlement activities? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	14.7%
No	79.4%
No opinion/Don't know	5.9%

Do you think the USA is an impartial broker in the peace process between the PA and Israel? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	13.4%
No	82.5%
No opinion/Don't know	4.1%

Do you think that the European Union is an impartial broker in the peace process between the PA and Israel? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	34.2%
No	57.8%
No opinion/Don't know	8.0%

Do you think that the International Quartet is an impartial broker in the peace process between the PA and Israel? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	27.5%
No	59.8%
No opinion/Don't know	12.7%

If a Palestinian State is recognized in the UN, how will this recognition influence negotiations on the issue of refugees? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Positively	42.5%
No influence	23.4%
Negatively	29.8%
No opinion/Don't know	4.4%

If a Palestinian State is recognized in the UN, how will this recognition influence negotiations on the issue of Jerusalem? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Positively	40.6%
No influence	20.7%
Negatively	32.5%
No opinion/Don't know	6.1%

If a Palestinian State is recognized in the UN, how will this recognition influence negotiations on the issue of borders? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Positively	40.3%
No influence	20.6%
Negatively	32.2%
No opinion/Don't know	6.9%

Do you support or reject holding talks between the PA and the Israeli government if Israel continues its settlement activities in the West Bank? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

I support	18.4%
I reject	77.7%
No opinion/Don't know	3.9%

Do you think that it is possible to reach a lasting solution for the Palestinian Israeli conflict in view of the current circumstances? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	22.7%
No	72.2%
No opinion/Don't know	5.1%

Do you think that the USA and the European countries have a duplicity of standards when they support the demands of the popular revolutions in the Arab countries and do not support similar Palestinian demands? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	68.6%
No	20.9%
No opinion/Don't know	10.4%

Do you expect an erruption of a third intifada in the Palestinian Territories? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	57.2%
No	35.3%
No opinion/Don't know	7.4%

Do you support or reject the rise of an armed uprising (intifada)? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

	West Bank	Gaza Strip	Total
I support	28.0%	49.8%	36.0%
I reject	67.9%	39.8%	57.6%
No opinion/Don't know	4.1%	10.4%	6.4%

Do you support or reject the rise of nonviolence and unarmed popular resistance? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

I support	58.3%
I reject	35.9%
No opinion/Don't know	5.7%

Do you personally support or oppose a two-state solution (Israel and Palestine - in the West Bank including East Jerusalem)? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Support	61.2%
Oppose	35.3%
Don't know	4.8%

Do you personally support or oppose a two-state solution (Israel and Palestine - in the West Bank including East Jerusalem)? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Support	61.2%
Oppose	35.3%
Don't know	4.8%

Do you believe that the following parties are serious about peace negotiations leading to the establishment of an independent Palestine? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

	Palestinian National Authority	EU	UN member states	USA	Israel
Yes	81.2%	23.3%	20.2%	6.2%	3.0%
To some extent	13.1%	41.4%	40.2%	17.3%	10.6%
No	5.4%	31.2%	35.9%	74.7%	85.7%
Don't know	0.3%	4.2%	3.8%	1.8%	0.8%

Do you support a return to the negotiations between Palestinians and Israel at this time? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Yes unconditionally	5.5%
Yes conditionally (after a halt to settlement construction)	58.0%
No	29.7%
Neutral	6.8%

In your opinion, which of the following is the best means to end the occupation and establish a Palestinian state? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Negotiations to reach an agreement between the two parties	21.1%
An international conference that imposes a settlement	20.8%
A non-violent popular uprising	16.8%
Armed/militant confrontations	16.6%
A mix of non-violent and militant means	21.1%
Others	1.0%
Don't know	2.7%

Do you believe that the American government is a neutral party in the negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Yes	7.9%
To some extent	12.1%
No	78.3%
Don't know	1.7%

In general, do you believe that President Obama is capable of establishing a Palestinian state? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Yes	22.0%
To some extent	20.6%
No	55.2%
Don't know	2.2%

Do you have more or less hope for the peace process now compared to one year ago? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

More hope	44.1%
Less hope	49.4%
Don't know	6.5%

20 years agter the negotiations started, do you feel that Palestinians are closer or farther from achieving their goal of establishing a Palestinian state? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Closer	49.4%
Farther	41.7%
Don't know	8.8%