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Palestinian Public Opinion Polls: Views on Government Infrastructure and Political System

(2002 - 2003)

How do evaluate the performance of Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 26.5 25.4 28.6
Fair 34.3 33.9 35.0
Weak 28.2 29.7 25.6
No opinion 10.9 11.0 10.8

Three months after its appointment, how do you evaluate the performance of the new cabinet? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 23.0 19.8 28.8
Fair 38.9 39.4 37.9
Weak 31.0 33.0 27.6
No opinion 7.1 7.9 5.8

How do you evaluate the performance of the new government in the following fields? (Source: Bir Zeit, August 2003)

Improving services of government institutions

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 25.2 20.7 33.2
Fair 31.2 30.8 31.8
Weak 33.9 38.5 25.7
No opinion 9.7 10.0 9.2

Providing domestic security

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 23.4 15.4 37.5
Fair 27.6 25.9 30.4
Weak 44.9 53.8 29.0
No opinion 4.2 4.9 3.1

Promoting the rule of law

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 21.4 17.4 28.4
Fair 31.3 29.9 33.7
Weak 38.1 42.6 30.1
No opinion 9.2 10.1 7.8

Progress in negotiations with Israel

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 20.0 21.8 16.7
Fair 29.4 29.1 29.9
Weak 44.8 42.5 49.0
No opinion 5.8 6.6 4.4

Support for the judiciary

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 19.8 17.6 23.8
Fair 25.5 22.4 31.1
Weak 38.6 44.6 27.9
No opinion 16.0 15.4 17.2

Improving the economic situation

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 18.1 13.3 26.5
Fair 29.7 29.8 29.7
Weak 48.8 53.4 40.7
No opinion 3.4 3.6 3.0

Fighting corruption

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 17.9 15.5 23.8
Fair 21.0 21.3 20.4
Weak 52.2 55.6 46.2
No opinion 8.9 8.6 9.5

Ridding society of illegal weapons

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 16.0 14.4 18.9
Fair 21.8 23.1 19.7
Weak 49.9 50.3 49.3
No opinion 12.2 12.3 12.1

Withdrawl of Israeli forces from Palestinian cities

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 13.2 12.1 15.0
Fair 21.6 20.2 24.0
Weak 61.3 63.7 56.9
No opinion 4.0 3.9 4.1

Easing Israeli closures

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 11.8 8.7 17.3
Fair 25.1 20.5 33.3
Weak 60.3 68.1 46.3
No opinion 2.9 2.7 3.1

Reducing unemployment

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Good 11.2 9.3 14.5
Fair 21.1 17.5 27.6
Weak 63.6 68.7 54.5
No opinion 4.0 4.4 3.3

Do you believe that the current Palestinian Government is empowered enough to resolve the above mentioned problems? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Yes 22.2 19.2 27.4
To some extent 35.5 38.7 29.9
No 36.1 35.6 37.1
No opinion 6.2 6.5 5.7

Do you believe that Israel is placing obstacles to impede the success of Palestinian Government? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Yes 78.7 97.3 77.6
To some extent 8.2 8.7 7.2
No 8.4 7.6 9.7
No opinion 4.8 4.5 5.4

Do you believe that the new Palestinian Government faces internal obstacles? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Yes 56.2 57.2 54.5
To some extent 18.0 16.2 21.2
No 16.4 16.2 16.6
No opinion 9.4 10.4 7.7

Do you support holding a presidential election? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Yes 60.5 58.0 64.9
No 36.1 38.8 31.5
No opinion 3.4 3.3 3.6

Do you support holding parliamentary elections? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Yes 73.9 72.2 76.8
No 22.6 24.9 18.4
No opinion 3.5 2.8 4.8

If legislative elections were held, would you vote for: (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
the current members 15.5 12.0 20.4
the new members 55.3 53.9 57.9
not sure 29.2 33.4 21.7

Do you support holding local council elections? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Yes 73.0 71.4 76.0
No 16.9 15.7 19.1
No opinion 3.2 2.3 4.8
  6.8 10.8 0.0

If local council elections were held, would you vote for: (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
the current members 18.8 15.4 24.8
the new members 57.4 58.6 55.5
not sure 23.7 26.1 19.7

When voting, which of the following is most important in selecting your candidate? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

Honesty

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 79.8 78.4 82.2
Important 18.7 20.1 16.4
Somewhat important 0.9 0.8 0.9
Not important 0.3 0.2 0.5
Not at all important 0.1 0.1 0.0
No opinion 0.3 0.4 0.0

Community service

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 64.7 60.6 72.0
Important 32.4 36.1 25.9
Somewhat important 1.2 1.3 1.0
Not important 1.0 1.0 0.9
Not at all important 0.1 0.1 0.0
No opinion 0.6 0.9 0.2

Educational attainment

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 62.4 57.8 70.5
Important 32.8 37.2 24.9
Somewhat important 3.1 3.1 3.0
Not important 1.4 1.2 1.6
Not at all important 0.1 0.1 0.0
No opinion 0.3 0.5 0.0

Religious values

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 55.4 50.0 64.8
Important 31.1 35.5 23.3
Somewhat important 6.8 6.6 7.0
Not important 6.2 7.2 4.5
Not at all important 0.2 0.1 0.4
No opinion 0.4 0.6 0.0

Role in the struggle

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 39.1 36.9 42.9
Important 43.4 45.2 40.3
Somewhat important 9.0 9.4 8.3
Not important 7.5 7.2 8.1
Not at all important 0.4 0.5 0.2
No opinion 0.6 0.8 0.2

Political affiliation

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 14.1 14.8 12.9
Important 23.2 26.0 18.3
Somewhat important 12.3 10.6 15.4
Not important 42.6 40.6 46.3
Not at all important 5.6 5.9 5.0
No opinion 2.1 2.1 2.2

Family Ties

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 9.3 10.8 6.8
Important 15.9 15.2 17.2
Somewhat important 8.7 9.4 7.5
Not important 51.7 49.4 55.8
Not at all important 13.3 14.0 12.0
No opinion 1.1 1.3 0.6

Select the most important criteria that you will take into consideration when voting for a candidate? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Family ties 5.9 7.8 2.6
Honesty 51.8 51.4 52.4
Religious values 18.7 18.0 19.8
Educational attainment 7.0 6.6 7.8
Role in the struggle 2.9 3.7 1.6
Political Affiliation 0.8 1.0 0.5
Community service 12.9 11.5 15.3

Evaluate the importance of following characteristics in a future president (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

Honesty

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 75.3 72.3 80.7
Important 23.5 26.5 18.4
Somewhat important 0.5 0.5 0.5
Not important 0.2 0.3 0.2
Not at all important 0.1 0.1 0.0
No opinion 0.4 0.4 0.2

Able to end the occupation

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 70.6 68.7 73.9
Important 24.6 26.6 20.9
Somewhat important 2.3 2.2 2.5
Not important 1.6 1.5 1.6
No opinion 1.0 0.9 1.1

Committed to Islamic values

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 66.3 59.2 78.9
Important 28.2 33.9 18.2
Somewhat important 2.8 4.1 0.7
Not important 2.3 2.3 2.2
Not at all important 0.1 0.2 0.0
No opinion 0.3 0.4 0.0

Committed to Rule of Law

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 60.5 65.6 67.6
Important 36.8 40.2 30.8
Somewhat important 1.4 1.6 0.8
Not important 0.5 0.5 0.4
Not at all important 0.3 0.3 0.4
No opinion 0.5 0.8 0.0

Able to resolve social problems

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 58.6 57.5 60.6
Important 37.1 38.7 34.2
Somewhat important 3.2 2.9 3.9
Not important 0.4 0.3 0.7
No opinion 0.6 0.7 0.5

Possess international diplomacy skills

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 55.0 53.4 57.9
Important 39.7 41.6 36.3
Somewhat important 2.7 2.9 2.3
Not important 1.2 0.7 2.0
No opinion 1.4 1.3 1.5

Possess a college degree

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 53.2 49.5 59.9
Important 36.7 39.4 31.9
Somewhat important 7.2 8.1 5.7
Not important 2.5 2.5 2.5
Not at all important 0.1 0.1 0.0
No opinion 0.3 0.4 0.0

Possess military experience

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 49.1 47.4 52.2
Important 37.9 40.5 33.4
Somewhat important 6.7 5.9 8.2
Not important 5.1 5.0 5.4
Not at all important 0.2 0.3 0.1
No opinion 0.9 1.0 0.7

Possess global awareness

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 47.8 46.8 49.6
Important 42.2 43.8 39.4
Somewhat important 6.9 7.0 6.7
Not important 2.2 1.4 3.6
Not at all important 0.1 0.1 0.2
No opinion 0.7 0.9 0.4

Able to achieve democracy

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 47.2 46.0 49.4
Important 39.9 41.2 37.4
Somewhat important 6.8 6.8 6.9
Not important 4.5 4.7 4.3
Not at all important 0.2 0.2 0.3
No opinion 1.3 1.1 1.7

Active in the national struggle

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Very important 40.8 36.9 47.9
Important 39.8 41.4 36.8
Somewhat important 10.5 12.6 6.7
Not important 7.6 7.8 7.3
Not at all important 0.4 0.4 0.3
No opinion 0.9 0.9 0.9

Will you register for future elections (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Yes 65.5 60.9 72.7
No 30.9 34.2 25.2
Don't know 3.9 4.9 2.1

Do you have information about how to register for Palestinian elections? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Yes 30.9 29.4 33.7
No 65.0 65.0 63.4
Don't know 4.1 4.8 2.9

If elections take place, will you vote? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Yes 76.9 74.2 81.8
No 19.4 21.6 15.5
Don't know 3.7 4.2 2.5

If the opposition calls for a boycott, will you honor the boycott? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Yes 29.3 30.4 27.3
No 56.6 54.7 60.1
Don't know 14.1 15.0 12.6

Do you support or oppose freedom of expression? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Support 95.9 95.8 96.1
Oppose 2.3 1.9 2.9
No opinion 1.8 2.3 1.0

Do you believe that the law must guarantee the freedom to establish political parties? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Support 88.6 89.6 86.9
Oppose 7.2 5.5 10.2
No opinion 4.2 5.0 2.8

Do you support or oppose a legislative council based on proportional representation? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

  Total % West Bank % Gaza Strip %
Support 76.5 76.2 77.1
Oppose 15.4 15.4 15.4
No opinion 8.1 8.4 7.5

Do you support or oppose a constitution based on equality of all citizens? (Bir Zeit, August 2003)

Regardless if they were Muslim or Christian

  Total West Bank Gaza Strip

1) Yes

83.4

85.3

80.0

2) No

14.2

12.5

17.2

3) No opinion

2.4

2.2

2.9

 

Regardless if they were men or women

  Total West Bank Gaza Strip

1) Yes

84.7

87.5

79.9

2) No

13.6

10.5

19.2

3) No opinion

1.7

2.1

0.9

Democracy is the best form of government. (PORI, September 2003)

  Israeli Jews Israeli Arabs Palestinians
Strongly Agree 53% 55% 55%
Somewhat Agree 34% 31% 25%
Somewhat Disagree 8% 4% 9%
Strongly Disagree 5% 9% 8%
Don't Know -- 1% 3%

Free market capitalism is the best economic system. (PORI, September 2003)

  Israeli Jews Israeli Arabs Palestinians
Strongly agree 20% 19% 24%
Somewhat agree 41% 29% 31%
Somewhat disagree 17% 15% 20%
Strongly disagree 15% 32% 18%
Don't know 7% 6% 8%

The citizens of a country should be held responsible for the actions of their government. (PORI, September 2003)

  Israeli Jews Israeli Arabs Palestinians
Strongly agree 24% 53% 32%
Somewhat agree 36% 22% 35%
Somewhat disagree 17% 9% 17%
Strongly disagree 21% 15% 11%
Don't know 2% 2% 5%

Governments should be held responsible for the actions of their citizens. (PORI, September 2003)

  Israeli Jews Israeli Arabs Palestinians
Strongly agree 23% 64% 37%
Somewhat agree 40% 24% 40%
Somewhat disagree 19% 5% 15%
Strongly disagree 16% 6% 4%
Don't know 3% 1% 5%

And ideally, Israel’s political system should be a …? [The political system of a future Palestinian state should be…?] (PORI, September 2003)

  Israeli Jew Israeli Arabs Palestinians
Democratic regime in which all the political ideas are represented 79% [67%] [33%]
A Jewish religious regime with numerous parties based on halakhah / [An Islamic, single-party government] 14% [7%] [21%]
A Jewish religious single-party government / [An Islamic regime with numerous parties based on Islam] 6% [22%] [17%]
Don't Know / Refused 2% [4%] [29%]

Taking into consideration the latest developments, how has your attitude towards the PLO changed? (Source: JMCC Poll, January 1994)

  Total (1/94) Total (7/94)
My support to the PLO increased 12.6 34.8
My support to the PLO declined 30.0 18.1
My support to the PLO did not change 35.9 41.1
I have never been a supporter of the PLO 14.1  
No answer / no opinion 7.4 6.0
West Bank (1/94) West Bank (7/94) Gaza Strip (1/94) Gaza Strip (7/94)
My support to the PLO increased 12.8 33.9 12.1 36.4
My support to the PLO declined 33.2 19.3 23.0 15.8
My support to the PLO did not change 31.4 40.4 45.9 42.3
I have never been a supporter of the PLO 13.5 15.4
No answer / no opinion 9.1 6.3 3.5 5.5

Once the PLO assumes power in the Occupied Territory, what is your expectation? After having assumed power in the autonomous areas of the Gaza Strip and the Jericho areas, what do you think? Does the PLO exercise authority in a: (Source: JMCC Poll, January 1994)

  Total (1/94) Total (7/94) West Bank (1/94) West Bank (7/94) Gaza Strip (1/94) Gaza Strip (7/94)
The PLO will exercise authority in a good way 35.9 52.8 32.4 49.9 43.6 58.2
The PLO will exercise authority in a bad way 33.0 21.4 33.3 20.6 32.2 22.9
I have no expectations 22.4   25.9   15.0  
No answer/no opinion 8.7 25.8 8.4 29.5 9.2 18.9

Upon the Palestinian Authority's assumption of responsibility in the West Bank, would you say that your feeling of security, in general, would be better, worse, or would you say that your feeling of security will not change? (Source: JMCC Poll, October 1995)

  Total West Bank Gaza Strip
Better 62.3 66.8 50.9
Worse 11.2 11.0 11.8
Will not change 21.2 17.2 32.1
Other 1.3 1.3 1.2
No opinion 4.0 3.7 4.0

I will now ask your opinion about long-term Palestinians Authority security cooperation between Israel and the PA. It seems that the negotiations will take a long time before it reaches a Palestinian acceptable solution. Meanwhile, to what extent do you support security cooperation between Israel and Palestine? (Source: JMCC Poll, March 2000) 

 
Total 
West Bank
Gaza Strip
n= 1200
n=762
n=438
Strongly support
6.5
7.0
5.9
Somewhat support
34.8
36.5
31.8
Somehow oppose
23.2
20.7
27.4
Strongly oppose
27.1
26.8
27.6
No answer
8.4
9.0
7.3

Some think that the level of corruption in the Palestinian Authority is high, others think that there is corruption but it is not widespread while others think there isn't any corruption. What do you think? (Source: JMCC Poll, April 1997)

  Total (4/97) Total (7/97) Total (8/97) Total (12/02) West Bank (4/97) West Bank (7/97) West Bank (8/97) West Bank (12/02) Gaza Strip (4/97) Gaza Strip (7/97) Gaza Strip (8/97) Gaza Strip (12/02)
There is a great deal 34.8 44.9 47.3 58.3 30.3 42.0 43.1 59.6 42.2 49.9 54.4 56.2
There is a fair amount 44.0 40.7 43.3 30.7 45.5 40.9 46.4 29.9 41.5 40.3 37.8 32.1
There is hardly any at all 11.8 6.6 5.5 9.8 13.2 7.9 6.3 9.3 9.3 4.3 4.1 10.4
No answer 9.4 7.8 3.9 1.2 10.9 9.2 4.2 1.2 7.0 5.5 3.7 1.3

In your opinion, what is the extent of corruption (if found) in the Palestinian Authority apparatuses or institutions? (Source: JMCC Poll, August 1999)

  Total (9/97) Total (8/99) Total (6/00) West Bank (8/97) West Bank (8/99) West Bank (6/00) Gaza Strip (11/97) Gaza Strip (8/99) Gaza Strip (6/00)
Widely spread 28.3 35.8
33.5
27.5 33.6
32.2
29.7 39.8
 36.1
Somewhat spread 35.1 35.3
39.5
35.4 35.2
38.7
34.6 35.5
40.9
A little spread 18.6 17.6
17.2
17.1 17.6
17.5
21.1 17.6
16.7
Not spread at all 6.9 4.2
5.1
6.8 4.8
5.3
7.2 3.0
4.5
No opinion / do not know 8.3 -- -- 10.9 -- -- 3.7 - --
No answer 2.8 7.1
4.7
2.3 8.8
6.3
3.7 4.1
1.8

Do you think that there is a corruption in the PNA and its institutions?

 
Total (7/00) Source: PSR Total (7/01) Source: PSR Total (12/01) Source: PSR Total (5/02) Source: PSR Total (8/02) Source: PSR Total (11/02) Source: PSR
Total  (12/02) (Source: JMCC)
Total (4/03) (Source: PSR) Total (6/03) (Source: PSR)
           
N=1200
--  
Yes 76.1 83.4 73.7 83.4 84.9 84.0
82.7
80.9 84.0
No 11.7 7.8 15.0 8.5 6.5 8.4
7.8
10.3 8.3
I don't know 12.2 8.7 11.3 8.0 8.6 7.7
8.3
8.8 7.7
No answer         -- --
1.2
   

Do you think that there is a corruption in the PNA and its institutions? (Source: JMCC Poll)

 
West Bank (7/00) Source: PSR West Bank (7/01) West Bank (12/01) Source: PSR West Bank (5/02) (Source: PSR) West Bank (9/02) Source: PSR West Bank (11/02) (Source: PSR)
West Bank (12/02) (Source: JMCC)
West Bank (4/03) (Source: PSR) West Bank (6/03) (Source: PSR)
           
N=760
--  
Yes 73.8

80.5

70.1 82.7 84.8 82.4
78.8
78.8 81.3
No 12.9

8.4

16.3 10.0 6.2 8.1
8.2
12.3 8.8
I don't know 13.4

11.1

13.6 7.3 9.0 9.5
11.2
9.0 9.9
No answer         -- --
1.8
   

Do you think that there is a corruption in the PNA and its institutions? (Source: JMCC Poll)

 
Gaza Strip (7/00) Gaza Strip (7/01) Gaza Strip (12/01) Source: PSR Gaza Strip (5/02) (Source: PSR) Gaza Strip (9/02) Source: PSR Gaza Strip (11/02) (Source: PSR)
Gaza Strip (12/02) (Source: JMCC)
Gaza Strip (4/03) (Source: PSR) Gaza Strip (6/03) (Source: PSR)
           
N=440
--  
Yes 79.6 88.1 79.8 84.6 85.2 86.5
89.3
84.6 88.6
No 9.9 6.9 12.9 6.1 6.9 8.7
7.3
6.9 7.3
I don't know 10.6 4.9 7.3 9.3 7.9 4.8
3.2

8.5

4.0
No answer         --  
0.2
   

What about the Palestinian Authority's (PA) attempts to deal with the corruption issue. Do you think that the PA is working greatly, working enough, or it is not doing enough to deal with corruption? (This question asked only to those who didn't answer not spread at all / no corruption in the question above) (Source: JMCC Poll, August 1997)

  Total West Bank Gaza Strip
Greatly 7.4 7.8 6.8
Enough 33.4 31.1 37.5
Not doing enough 47.8 47.0 49.2
No opinion / do not know 0.1 0.1 0.0
No answer 11.3 14.0 6.5

Will this corruption in PA institutions increase, decrease or remain as it is in the future? (Source: PSR, August 2002)

 

Total (7/00) Total (7/01) Total (5/02)

Total (8/02)

Total (11/02) Total (4/03) Total (6/03) West Bank (7/00) West Bank (7/01) West Bank (5/02)

West Bank (8/02)

West Bank (11/02) West Bank (4/03) West Bank (6/03) Gaza Strip (7/00) Gaza Strip (7/01) Gaza Strip (5/02)

Gaza Strip (8/02)

Gaza Strip (11/02) Gaza Strip (4/03) Gaza Strip (6/03)

1. Increase

53.8 49.1 47.9

46.1

48.3 47.8 54.4 55.4 48.5 52.3

47.3

50.1 48.6 52.8 51.6 50.0 41.3

44.3

45.6 46.6 56.9

2. Remain as it is

8.6 8.3 8.8

11.9

13.6 12.9 12.8 6.1 8.4 8.7

11.0

12.4 12.8 13.4 12.0 8.1 8.8

13.1

15.6 12.9 11.8

3. Decrease

26.7 33.6 29.7

28.7

28.6 30.2 24.5 29.1 34.9 25.6

27.5

29.3 29.2 24.2 23.5 31.8 36.1

30.7

27.7 31.8 25.0

4. Don’t Know/ No Opinion

10.9 8.9 13.6

13.2

9.4 9.1 8.3 9.4 8.1 13.4

14.2

8.2 9.3 9.6 12.9 10.1 13.8

11.8

11.1 8.7 6.3

 

There are internal and external calls for wide and fundamental domestic reforms and changes in the institutions and authorities of the Palestinian Authority. Do you support or oppose these calls? (Source: PSR, August 2002)

  Total (5/02) Total (9/02) Total (11/02) West Bank (5/02) West Bank (9/02) West Bank (11/02) Gaza Strip (5/02) Gaza Strip (9/02) Gaza Strip (11/02)

1. Strongly support

32.7

28.5

24.6 23.0

24.7

23.4 48.1

34.7

26.6

2. Support

58.6

55.1

60.4 68.9

56.9

62.1 42.0

52.3

57.5

3. Oppose

5.9

10.4

10.6 5.4

11.9

11.0 6.7

8.1

9.9

4. Strongly oppose

1.1

1.9

2.8 0.7

2.0

1.7 1.6

1.8

4.6

5. Do not know/ No opinion

1.7

4.0

1.6 1.9

4.6

1.7 1.6

3.2

1.4

 

 

Total (11/00)

Total (8/02)

West Bank (11/00)

West Bank (8/02)

Gaza Strip (11/00)

Gaza Strip (8/02)

The following measures are among the proposed reform steps. Tell us if you support or oppose each (Source: PSR, August 2002)

The appointment or election of a prime minister

1. Strongly support

13.0

13.3

12.9

12.6

13.1

14.4

2. Support

59.5

56.3

61.9

55.9

15.8

57.0

3. Oppose

19.4

18.1

18.9

17.3

20.0

19.3

4. Strongly oppose

4.6

4.3

2.5

3.8

7.9

4.9

5. Do not know/ No opinion

3.6

8.0

3.8

10.4

3.2

4.3

 

 

Total (11/00) Total (5/02)

Total (8/02)

Total (4/03) West Bank (11/00) West Bank (5/02)

West Bank (8/02)

West Bank (4/03) Gaza Strip (11/00) Gaza Strip (5/02)

Gaza Strip (8/02)

Gaza Strip (4/03)

Changing the Palestinian presidential system to a parliamentary system in which power resides in the hands of a prime minister while the position of the president is ceremonial?

1. Strongly support

8.0 12.2

8.8

7.5 8.1 11.2

8.5

6.9 7.7 13.8

9.3

8.3

2. Support

38.9 36.1

35.3

36.6 40.7 40.2

35.2

39.1 35.9 29.6

35.4

32.4

3. Oppose

39.4 35.2

38.3

40.5 39.9 33.8

36.7

39.5 38.7 37.5

40.9

42.1

4. Strongly oppose

9.3 9.1

10.0

9.8 5.8 6.4

9.3

7.9 14.9 13.4

11.1

13.0

5. Do not know/ No opinion

4.5 7.3

7.7

5.7 5.5 8.3

10.4

6.6 2.8 5.7

3.4

4.3

 

 

Total (5/02)

West Bank (5/02)

Gaza Strip (5/02)

The following measures are among the proposed reform steps. Tell us if you support or oppose each (Source: PSR, 5/02)

05-1 The unification of the security services under one Palestinian command

1. Strongly support

27.0

21.4

36.1

2. Support

57.9

65.4

46.0

3. Oppose

10.3

8.8

12.6

4. Strongly oppose

2.0

1.7

2.4

5. Do not know/ No opinion

2.8

2.7

3.0

 

Total (5/02)

West Bank (5/02)

Gaza Strip (5/02)

05-2 The dismissal of ministers and other officials accused of mismanagement or corruption

1. Strongly support

53.4

42.7

70.4

2. Support

41.3

50.7

26.2

3. Oppose

3.6

4.2

2.6

4. Strongly oppose

0.5

0.6

0.4

5. Do not know/ No opinion

1.2

1.7

0.4

 

Total (5/02)

West Bank (5/02)

Gaza Strip (5/02)

05-3 Holding elections for the president and the Legislative Council during the next few months

1. Strongly support

28.4

21.9

38.9

2. Support

54.7

59.5

46.9

3. Oppose

12.9

13.7

11.6

4. Strongly oppose

1.7

2.0

1.2

5. Do not know/ No opinion

2.4

3.0

1.4

 

Total (5/02)

West Bank (5/02)

Gaza Strip (5/02)

05-4 The adoption of a Palestinian constitution or basic law

1. Strongly support

32.3

25.3

43.6

2. Support

60.1

66.5

49.7

3. Oppose

3.8

4.0

3.6

4. Strongly oppose

0.8

0.9

0.6

5. Do not know/ No opinion

3.0

3.3

2.6

 

Total

West Bank

Gaza Strip

 

Total (8/02)

West Bank (8/02)

Gaza Strip (8/02)

08. Among the reform measures implemented by the Palestinian Authority has been the formation of a small cabinet. Do you have confidence in the ability of the new cabinet to reform internal conditions and deal with Israel?

1. Yes, I have confidence

25.1

23.8

27.3

2. No, I do not have confidence

61.5

60.5

63.0

3. Do not know / no opinion

13.4

15.7

9.7

 

Total (8/02)

West Bank (8/02)

Gaza Strip (8/02)

09. Among the reform steps declared by the new cabinet is the One-Hundred Day Program of political and financial reform. Looking at the steps taken so far by the new cabinet, do you believe it has the intention of implementing this reform program?

1. Yes

33.8

30.6

38.9

2. No

51.4

51.8

50.9

3. Do not know / no opinion

14.7

17.6

10.1

 

Total (8/02)

West Bank (8/02)

Gaza Strip (8/02)

10. In your view, who is hindering political reform in Palestine?

1. The Palestinian leadership

11.0

9.4

13.6

2. Israel

43.7

43.6

43.9

3. Both, the Palestinian leadership and Israel

34.7

34.0

35.8

4. Others, specify ---------

6.5

8.5

3.4

5. Do not know / no opinion

4.1

4.6

3.4

The new Palestinian finance minister says that his ministry controls today all Palestinian revenues and expenditures. Do you believe that that this will lead to the elimination of financial corruption inside the Palestinian Authority? (Source: PSR, December 2001)

 

Total (12/01)

Total (11/02)

West Bank (12/01)

West Bank (11/02)

Gaza Strip (12/01)

Gaza Strip (11/02)

1. Yes

29.8

25.2

27.0

24.9

34.4

25.6

2. No

57.3

67.0

58.6

66.4

55.2

67.8

3. Do not know / no opinion

12.9

7.9

14.4

8.7

10.4

6.6

 

 

Total%

West Bank %

Gaza Strip%

Minister of Finance Salam Fayyad says that his ministry controls today all the revenues and expenditures of the Palestinian Authority. Are you satisfied with the performance of the finance minister? (Source: PSR, April 2003)

1) Certainly satisfied

6.0

5.1

7.5

2) Satisfied

29.0

26.7

32.8

3) Not satisfied

26.5

26.4

26.5

4) Certainly not satisfied

9.3

11.0

6.3

5) No opinion/ do not know

29.3

30.7

26.9

Will this corruption in PA institutions increase, decrease or remain as it is in the future? (Source: PSR)

  Total (12/01) Total (8/02) West Bank (12/01) West Bank (8/02) Gaza Strip (12/01) Gaza Strip (8/02)

1. Increase

48.7

46.1

47.9

47.3

49.8

44.3

2. Remain as it is

11.3

11.9

11.5

11.0

11.0

13.1

3. Decrease

30.1

28.7

29.3

27.5

31.4

30.7

4. Don’t Know/ No Opinion

9.9

13.2

11.3

14.2

7.8

11.8

The Palestinian Authority has been working in recent months on implementing reform, some find the reform serious, others find it not serious while others see that the political situation (re-occupation and checkpoints) obstruct the success of these reforms, what  is your opinion? (Source: JMCC Poll, December 2002)

 
Total 
West Bank
Gaza Strip
N=1200
N=760
N=440
I find it serious
13.1 
8.2 
21.6 
I find it not serious
 46.9
46.6 
47.5 
Political situation (re-occupation and checkpoints) obstruct the success of these reforms
33.1 
35.8 
28.4 
No answer
6.9 
9.4 
2.5 

In the process of reform conducted by the Authority there are parts that were reformed and others did not succeed in reform, what is the reason? Is it the lack of seriousness by the Authority in reform; restrictions imposed by the occupation on the Authority (re-occupation and siege), is it financial difficulties? Or something else, please state? (Source: JMCC Poll, December 2002) 

 
Total 
West Bank
Gaza Strip
N=1200
N=760
N=440
Lack of seriousness of the Authority in reform
 42.5
41.3 
44.5 
Restrictions imposed by the occupation on the Authority (re-occupation and siege)
39.7 
38.7 
41.4
Financial difficulties
9.6 
9.3 
10.0
Other
1.8
2.2
1.1
No anwer
6.4
8.5
3.0

There are internal and external calls for wide and fundamental domestic reforms and changes in the institutions and authorities of the Palestinian Authority. Do you support or oppose these calls? (Source: PSR, August 2002)

 
Total (8/02)
Total (4/03)
West Bank (8/02)
West Bank (4/03)
Gaza Strip (8/02)
Gaza Strip (4/03)

1. Strongly support

28.5

22.8

24.7

20.6

34.7

26.3

2. Support

55.1

63.0

56.9

64.4

52.3

60.7

3. Oppose

10.4

9.1

11.9

9.9

8.1

7.7

4. Strongly oppose

1.9

2.3

2.0

2.2

1.8

2.4

5. Do not know/ No opinion

4.0

2.9

4.6

2.9

3.2

2.8