American Attitudes Toward the PLO/Palestinian Authority

What is your overall opinion of the Palestinian Authority? (Gallup, February 2015)

Date	Very Favorable	Mostly Favorable	Mostly Unfavorable	Very Unfavorable	No Opinion
Feb 2015	3%	14%	43%	29%	11%
Feb 2014	3%	16%	39%	27%	15%
Feb 2013	3%	12%	47%	30%	8%
Feb 2012	3%	16%	44%	28%	9%
Feb 2011	3%	16%	45%	25%	11%
Feb 2010	3%	17%	44%	26%	10%
Feb 2009	1%	14%	43%	30%	12%
Feb 2008	1%	13%	47%	28%	11%
Feb 2007	2%	14%	46%	29%	29%
Feb 2006	1%	10%	49%	29%	10%
Feb 2005	3%	24%	43%	19%	11%
Feb 2004	2%	13%	44%	32%	9%
Feb 2003	1%	12%	44%	29%	14%
Feb 2002	3%	11%	44%	32%	10%
Feb 2001	4%	18%	39%	24%	15%
Jan 2000	3%	18%	36%	16%	27%

Which of the following statements regarding the agreement between Hamas and Fatah do you agree with more? (The Israel Project, June 2011)

The agreement between Palestinian groups Hamas, which controls Gaza, and Fatah, which controls the West Bank is a GOOD IDEA because now the Palestinians can speak with one voice, move to elections and have one government.	28%
The deal between Hamas and Fatah is a BAD IDEA because Hamas is backed by Iran and the U.S. government considers it a terrorist organization and Hamas would have a bigger role among Palestinians.	55%

Which of the following statements regarding Israel working with the new Palestinian government do you agree with more? (The Israel Project, June 2011)

Israelis should WORK with the new Hamas/Fatah interim government that will comprised of technocrats and managers without party affiliation until there are Palestinian elections.	24%
Israelis should NOT WORK with the new Palestinian government until Hamas is willing to abide by previous agreements signed by Palestinian leaders including recognizing Israel and renouncing violence.	63%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas? (ADL, March 18-25, 2005)

Favorable	27%
Unfavorable	16%

In your opinion, how serious is new Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas about wanting to reach a peace agreement with the Israelis -- very serious, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not at all serious. (ADL)

	2003	2005
Serious	46%	64%
Not serious	43%	17%

Do you think it is enough that Abbas reach a cease fire with organizations like Hamas, or must he dismantle these groups? (ADL, March 18-25, 2005)

Cease fire	31%
Dismantle	43%
Unsure	13%

Do you think Abbas will be able to persuade organizations like Hamas to renounce violence and enter into the peace process with Israel? (ADL, March 18-25, 2005)

Yes	28%
No	40%
Unsure	20%

Next, I'd like to get your overall opinion of some people who were in the news this year. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of this person — or if you have never heard of him or her: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. (Gallup)

	1/6-8/94*	12/4-6/98	12/28-29/98	5/7-9/99	7/6-9/00	10/25-28/00	2/5-6/02	5/20-22/02	2003**
Favorable	23%	24%	35%	26%	27%	18%	17%	7%	9%
Unfavorable	52%	47%	45%	44%	45%	64%	73%	80%	66%
Never heard of	8%	9%	5%	6%	8%	6%	3%	3%
No Opinion	17%	20%	15%	24%	20%	12%	7%	10%

* Asked as PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat
**ADL poll

I'm going to read you the names of several public figures and groups, and I'd like you to rate your feelings toward each one as either very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative. If you don't know the name, please just say so. Yasser Arafat? (Wall Street Journal/NBC News, December 8-10, 2001)

Very Positive	2%
Somewhat Positive	7%
Neutral	20%
Somewhat Negative	19%
Very Negative	41%
Don't know	11%

From what you've seen or heard in the news, do you think Arafat has the ability to control extremist Palestinian groups, like those responsible for the recent violence, or not? (Newsweek, December 6-7, 2001)

Yes, can control	29%
No, cannot	63%
Don't know	8%

Are you familiar with the Palestinian Authority? IF YES: Are you very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable toward it? (Penn, Schoen & Berland Inc., and First International Resources Inc., January 25 and February 17, 2001)

	General Public	Elites	American Jews	Influential Americans
Unfamiliar	32%	17%	13%	0%
Very favorable	4%	4%	4%	0%
Somewhat favorable	14%	13%	9%	0%
Somewhat unfavorable	28%	46%	28%	0%
Very unfavorable	15%	14%	44%	0%
Don't know	7%	7%	3%	0%

Are you familiar with Yasser Arafat? IF YES: Are you very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable toward him? (Penn, Schoen & Berland Inc., and First International Resources Inc., January 25 and February 17, 2001)

	General Public	Elites	American Jews	Influential Americans
Unfamiliar	12%	6%	3%	0%
Very favorable	4%	7%	4%	0%
Somewhat favorable	24%	18%	11%	0%
Somewhat unfavorable	29%	36%	27%	0%
Very unfavorable	25%	27%	53%	0%
Don't know	6%	6%	2%	0%

Yasser Arafat was once a terrorist leader - and at heart, he hasn't really changed his ways. He still wants to push the Jews out of Israel. Do you strongly agree with this statement, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with this statement? (Penn, Schoen & Berland Inc., and First International Resources Inc., January 25 and February 17, 2001)

	General Public	Elites	American Jews	Influential Americans
Strongly agree	35%	29%	58%	0%
Somewhat agree	25%	31%	19%	0%
Somewhat disagree	23%	27%	13%	0%
Strongly disagree	10%	9%	6%	0%
Don't know	7%	4%	4%	0%

Are you familiar with the Palestine Liberation Organization, sometimes called the PLO? If you are familiar, are you Favorable or unfavorable? (Penn & Schoen 7/17/89)

Favorable 1/88	Favorable 7/89	Unfavorable 1/88	Unfavorable 7/89	Unfamiliar 1/88	Unfamiliar 7/89
9	9	51	46	39	45

Is the PLO a National Liberation Movement or is it a terrorist organization? (Penn & Schoen 7/17/89)

Liberation 1/88	Liberation 7/89	Terrorist 1/88	Terrorist 7/89	Don't Know 1/88	Don't Know 7/89
18	14	67	63	16	23

Does the PLO represent the Palestinian people or does it not represent the Palestinian people? (Penn & Schoen 7/17/89)

Represents 1/88	Represents 7/89	Does Not Represent 1/88	Does Not Represent 7/89	Don't Know 1/88	Don't Know 7/89
24	25	60	51	16	24

Do you think the PLO is sincere in making this pledge, or are they not sincere? (Penn & Schoen 7/17/89)

Sincere	Not Sincere	Don't Know
20	42	39

Who is doing more to promote peace on the West Bank And Gaza, Israel or the PLO? (Penn & Schoen 7/17/89)

Israel	PLO	Neither	Both	Don't Know
33	13	16	1	38

Will the PLO be satisfied if a state were created on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, or do you think it wants to dismantle the State of Israel as well? (Penn & Schoen 7/17/89)

Be satisfied	Dismantle Israel	Don't Know
16?	45	38

Do you believe Israel should be willing to negotiate with the PLO at some point if that is the organization that the Palestinian people choose to represent them, or do you believe that because of the PLO's involvement with terrorism and its support for Iraq in the Gulf war, Israel should never have to negotiate with the PLO? (Marttila & Kiley, 2/91)

Should be willing	42%
Should never negotiate	47%
Not sure	11%

In the dispute between Israel and the PLO which side do you sympathize with more, Israel or the PLO? (Marttila & Kiley, 2/91)

Date	Poll	Israel	PLO	Neither	Both	Not Sure
Aug.'79	Harris	71	8	9	3	9
Oct.'79	Harris	55	14	10	2	19
Dec.'79	Yankelovich	56	11	10	2	22
Jul.'80	Harris	65	6	13	4	12
Aug.'81	Harris	59	14	8	1	18
Jun.'82	Harris	60	16	11	2	11
Aug.'82	Harris	59	15	10	2	14

Has the PLO changed? (Marttila & Kiley, 9/89)

Still Terrorist	59
Has Changed	30
Not Sure	11

The U.S.-PLO Dialogue: (Marttila & Kiley, 9/89)

Approve	63
Disapprove	31

Israel has agreed to meet with local Palestinian representatives, but refuses to negotiate with the PLO claiming that it is a terrorist organization. (Roper, 4/89)

	1989 April	1988 April
Right	42	44
Wrong	32	27
DK/NA	26	2