Palestinian Public Opinion Polls: Views on Government Infrastructure and Political System
(2005 - 2006)
In General, What is the extent of your optimism towards the Palestinian Future? Would you say you are optimistic, somewhat optimistic, or pessimistic? (Jerusalem Media & Communications Center, February 2006)
| Total | West Bank | Gaza |
| N= 1200 | N= 760 | N= 440 |
Optimistic | 41.2 | 40.0 | 43.2 |
Somewhat Optimistic | 38.6 | 39.7 | 36.6 |
Pessimistic | 19.6 | 20.0 | 18.9 |
No answer | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
To what extent would you say the elections process was free and fair? (Jerusalem Media & Communications Center, February 2006)
| Total | West Bank | Gaza |
| N= 1200 | N= 760 | N= 440 |
Fair | 77.6 | 81.2 | 71.4 |
Somewhat fair | 16.4 | 13.3 | 21.8 |
Wasn't fair | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.3 |
No answer | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
Given the elections results, to what extent you say that the elected members re present your point of view? (Jerusalem Media & Communications Center, February 2006)
| Total | West Bank | Gaza |
| N= 1200 | N= 760 | N= 440 |
Represent my point of view | 29.1 | 27.0 | 32.7 |
Represent my point of view to a certain extent | 38.9 | 38.2 | 40.2 |
Do not represent my point of view | 29.6 | 32.4 | 24.8 |
No answer | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
How concerned are you from Hamas enforcing social restrictions on the Palestinians? (Jerusalem Media & Communications Center, February 2006)
| Total | West Bank | Gaza |
| N= 1200 | N= 760 | N= 440 |
Very worried | 8.3 | 10.0 | 5.2 |
Somewhat worried | 21.3 | 20.3 | 23.0 |
Somewhat not worried | 29.3 | 29.7 | 28.6 |
Not worried at all | 40.4 | 39.5 | 42.0 |
No answer | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 |
If you voted for Hamas , why so? (Jerusalem Media & Communications Center, February 2006)*
| Total | West Bank | Gaza |
| N=532 | N=305 | N=227 |
Religious Factors | 18.8 | 18.7 | 18.9 |
Hope to end the Corruption | 43.0 | 39.7 | 47.6 |
Hope to live in better living conditions | 10.7 | 12.8 | 7.9 |
For their political agenda | 11.8 | 12.5 | 11.0 |
To stop Fateh's control over the government | 7.5 | 9.2 | 5.3 |
Others | 2.1 | 1.0 | 3.5 |
No answer | 6.1 | 6.1 | 5.8 |
*This question was asked who said that they voted for Hamas
Regardless of whom you voted for, why do you think most People voted for them? (Jerusalem Media & Communications Center, February 2006)
| Total | West Bank | Gaza |
| N= 1200 | N=760 | N=440 |
Religious Factors | 13.3 | 14.3 | 11.6 |
Hope to end the Corruption | 44.0 | 39.7 | 51.4 |
Hope to live in a better living conditions | 18.9 | 19.2 | 18.4 |
For their political agenda | 6.1 | 6.4 | 5.5 |
To stop Fateh's control over the government | 13.5 | 15.7 | 9.8 |
Others | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.3 |
No answer | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 |
The status of the Palestinian Judiciary system is: (PCPO, November 16-21, 2005)
Response | Total |
Good | 18.0% |
Mediocre | 45.2% |
Bad | 34.8% |
No Opinion | 2.0% |
The ad hoc committee at the PLC has called for the dismissal of all heads of the security departments and their deputies, who failed in performing their duties properly, from their offices and the appointment of new Palestinian cadres. Do you support this call or not?
Strongly agree | 50.4% |
Somewhat agree | 32.4% |
Some what disagree | 12.4% |
Strongly agree | 3.1% |
Don’t know | 1.7% |
About 8 months have passed since the election of the new president (Mr. Mahmoud Abbas), how do you evaluate his performance in the following areas? (Bir Zeit Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2005) | |||
1) Improving the performance of security apparatuses | 48.3 | 48.0 | 48.9 |
2) Upgrading the situation of women | 44.5 | 40.7 | 50.5 |
3) promoting more democracy and freedom of expression | 43.7 | 39.1 | 51.1 |
4) Achieving Israeli withdrawal | 43.1 | 36.6 | 53.5 |
5) Improving government services | 40.1 | 37.8 | 43.7 |
6) Supporting social development and social security programs | 39.3 | 36.0 | 44.4 |
7) Achieving equality between regions | 32.8 | 30.1 | 37.2 |
8) Uprooting corruption | 32.5 | 30.0 | 36.3 |
9) Achieving internal security | 31.9 | 26.3 | 40.9 |
In general, how do you evaluate the performance of President (Mr. Mahmoud Abbas)? (Bir Zeit Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2005) | |||
1) Good | 41.2 | 37.0 | 48.1 |
2) Fair | 41.8 | 42.7 | 40.4 |
3) Weak | 17.0 | 20.4 | 11.5 |
In general, how do you evaluate the performance of Prime Minister Mr. Ahmad Qurie’? (Bir Zeit Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2005) | |||
1) Good | 24.6 | 24.9 | 24.1 |
2) Fair | 39.1 | 38.0 | 40.8 |
3) Weak | 36.3 | 37.0 | 35.1 |
In general, how do you evaluate the performance of the present government? (Bir Zeit Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2005) | |||
1) Good | 21.6 | 20.2 | 23.9 |
2) Fair | 39.8 | 40.4 | 38.8 |
3) Weak | 32.1 | 32.1 | 32.1 |
4) No opinion | 6.5 | 7.3 | 5.2 |
How do you evaluate the performance of the following Palestinian institutions since the election of President Mahmoud Abbas? (An-Najah University, May 11-13, 2005)
Total | Good | satisfied | bad | I don’t know/No opinion | Total |
The Presidential Institution | 31.3 | 40.9 | 19.4 | 8.5 | 100.0 |
The Palestinian Government | 27.2 | 40.3 | 27.8 | 4.7 | 100.0 |
The Legislative Council | 17.1 | 35.1 | 42.0 | 5.8 | 100.0 |
The judicious system | 26.0 | 34.5 | 30.7 | 8.8 | 100.0 |
The security apparatuses | 22.3 | 33.5 | 40.6 | 3.7 | 100.0 |
West Bank | |||||
Good | satisfied | bad | I don’t know/No opinion | Total | |
The Presidential Institution | 36.5 | 39.5 | 14.7 | 9.3 | 100.0 |
The Palestinian Government | 33.1 | 39.1 | 22.9 | 4.9 | 100.0 |
The Legislative Council | 20.8 | 37.2 | 35.5 | 6.5 | 100.0 |
The judicious system | 30.7 | 31.7 | 27.7 | 9.9 | 100.0 |
The security apparatuses | 29.2 | 33.0 | 34.7 | 3.1 | 100.0 |
Gaza Strip | |||||
Good | satisfied | bad | I don’t know/No opinion | Total | |
The Presidential Institution | 22.2 | 43.2 | 27.6 | 7.0 | 100.0 |
The Palestinian Government | 17.0 | 42.4 | 36.2 | 4.4 | 100.0 |
The Legislative Council | 10.6 | 31.6 | 53.2 | 4.6 | 100.0 |
The judicious system | 18.0 | 39.2 | 36.0 | 6.8 | 100.0 |
The security apparatuses | 10.4 | 34.2 | 50.8 | 4.6 | 100.0 |
Do you think that the Palestinian President began practical and tangible steps towards achieving the following (An-Najah University, May 11-13, 2005)
Total | ||||
| Yes | No | I don’t know/No opinion | Total |
Fighting corruption in public institutions | 49.9 | 42.5 | 7.6 | 100.0 |
Unifying Palestinian security apparatuses | 63.8 | 30.3 | 6.0 | 100.0 |
Enforcing the rule of law | 44.6 | 49.1 | 6.3 | 100.0 |
Putting an end to the chaotic use of arms in Palestinian streets | 30.1 | 64.2 | 5.7 | 100.0 |
Releasing prisoners | 32.7 | 61.8 | 5.5 | 100.0 |
Protecting the subjects of Palestinian resistance | 28.6 | 64.6 | 6.8 | 100.0 |
Limiting mediations in appointments in public positions. | 25.2 | 64.9 | 9.9 | 100.0 |
Providing personal security to Palestinian people | 29.0 | 64.8 | 6.2 | 100.0 |
Improving the economic situation | 22.4 | 71.6 | 6.0 | 100.0 |
Limiting poverty and unemployment | 18.4 | 76.3 | 5.4 | 100.0 |
West Bank | ||||
| Yes | No | I don’t know/No opinion | Total |
Fighting corruption in public institutions | 54.7 | 38.5 | 6.9 | 100.0 |
Unifying Palestinian security apparatuses | 68.6 | 25.9 | 5.5 | 100.0 |
Enforcing the rule of law | 53.3 | 41.9 | 4.9 | 100.0 |
Putting an end to the chaotic use of arms in Palestinian streets | 38.3 | 57.4 | 4.3 | 100.0 |
Releasing prisoners | 40.3 | 57.4 | 2.2 | 100.0 |
Protecting the subjects of Palestinian resistance | 30.7 | 65.2 | 4.1 | 100.0 |
Limiting mediations in appointments in public positions. | 26.9 | 63.6 | 9.5 | 100.0 |
Providing personal security to Palestinian people | 30.9 | 65.2 | 3.8 | 100.0 |
Improving the economic situation | 24.3 | 72.6 | 3.1 | 100.0 |
Limiting poverty and unemployment | 19.1 | 78.3 | 2.7 | 100.0 |
Gaza Strip | ||||
| Yes | No | I don’t know/No opinion | Total |
Fighting corruption in public institutions | 41.8 | 49.4 | 8.8 | 100.0 |
Unifying Palestinian security apparatuses | 55.4 | 37.8 | 6.8 | 100.0 |
Enforcing the rule of law | 29.6 | 61.6 | 8.8 | 100.0 |
Putting an end to the chaotic use of arms in Palestinian streets | 16.0 | 75.8 | 8.2 | 100.0 |
Releasing prisoners | 19.6 | 69.2 | 11.2 | 100.0 |
Protecting the subjects of Palestinian resistance | 25.0 | 63.6 | 11.4 | 100.0 |
Limiting mediations in appointments in public positions. | 22.4 | 67.0 | 10.6 | 100.0 |
Providing personal security to Palestinian people | 25.8 | 64.0 | 10.2 | 100.0 |
Improving the economic situation | 19.2 | 70.0 | 10.8 | 100.0 |
Limiting poverty and unemployment | 17.2 | 72.8 | 10.0 | 100.0 |
Do you think that the changes that President Abu Mazen conducted are (An-Najah University, May 11-13, 2005)
Total | West Bank | Gaza Strip | |
Genuinely for reform | 26.8 | 30.9 | 19.8 |
Formal and useless | 18.3 | 14.8 | 24.4 |
Partially to isolate some official from decision making | 15.1 | 12.2 | 20.2 |
To please some foreign parties | 32.1 | 34.3 | 28.4 |
I don not know/ No opinion | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.2 |
Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
As for the state of democracy in Palestine, how do you see it? (An-Najah University, May 11-13, 2005)
Total | West Bank | Gaza Strip | |
Good | 22.6 | 22.7 | 22.4 |
Fair | 41.9 | 41.2 | 43.2 |
Bad | 31.4 | 33.4 | 28.0 |
I don not know/ No opinion | 4.1 | 2.8 | 6.4 |
Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
Do you think that the political system in Palestine heading towards respecting human rights? (An-Najah University, May 11-13, 2005)
Total | West Bank | Gaza Strip | |
Yes | 30.4 | 35.3 | 22.0 |
Partially | 37.6 | 34.5 | 42.8 |
No | 28.4 | 27.1 | 30.6 |
I don not know/ No opinion | 3.6 | 3.0 | 4.6 |
Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
Do you think that the political system in Palestine is heading towards building a democratic system? (An-Najah University, May 11-13, 2005)
Total | West Bank | Gaza Strip | |
Yes | 26.5 | 28.6 | 23.0 |
Partially | 43.7 | 40.7 | 48.8 |
No | 25.4 | 26.6 | 23.2 |
I don not know/ No opinion | 4.4 | 4.1 | 5.0 |
Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
How do you assess the respect paid to human rights by the Palestinian Authority? (An-Najah University, May 11-13, 2005)
Total | West Bank | Gaza Strip | |
Good | 22.1 | 25.1 | 17.0 |
Fair | 45.1 | 47.8 | 40.4 |
Bad | 29.3 | 24.7 | 37.4 |
I don not know/ No opinion | 3.5 | 2.4 | 5.2 |
Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
How do you assess the respect paid to the freedom of press in Palestine by the Palestinian Authority? (An-Najah University, May 11-13, 2005)
Total | West Bank | The Gaza Strip | |
Good | 33.2 | 38.1 | 24.8 |
Fair | 41.7 | 39.8 | 45.0 |
Bad | 19.8 | 16.0 | 26.2 |
I don not know/ No opinion | 5.3 | 6.0 | 4.0 |
Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
Can you criticize the policies of the Palestinian Authority without fear? (An-Najah University, May 11-13, 2005)
Total | West Bank | Gaza Strip | |
Yes | 47.1 | 48.5 | 44.8 |
Partially | 25.4 | 22.6 | 30.2 |
No | 25.6 | 27.6 | 22.2 |
I don not know/ No opinion | 1.9 | 1.4 | 2.8 |
Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
Do you feel that you have the freedom to express your opinion in general political issues without fear? (An-Najah University, May 11-13, 2005)
Total | West Bank | Gaza Strip | |
Yes | 45.6 | 47.7 | 42.0 |
Partially | 26.8 | 23.8 | 31.8 |
No | 26.0 | 27.9 | 22.6 |
I don not know/ No opinion | 1.7 | 0.6 | 3.6 |
Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
Do you think that the Palestinian social system gives you the freedom to adopt any religion or idea you choose? (An-Najah University, May 11-13, 2005)
Total | West Bank | Gaza Strip | |
Yes | 39.4 | 47.4 | 26.6 |
Partially | 19.3 | 15.8 | 25.2 |
No | 39.6 | 34.2 | 43.6 |
I don not know/ No opinion | 3.7 | 2.6 | 5.6 |
Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |