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Palestinian Public Opinion Polls: Public Opinion After Operation Protective Edge

(Updated October 2014)

(October 2014)/ The Jerusalem Media & Communications Center

Does Hamas firing rockets at Israel help achieve Palestinian goals?
(The Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, October 2014)

 
Yes
No
Does Hamas firing rockets at Israel help achieve Palestinian goals?
61%
39%

Do you support negotiations with Israel?
(The Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, October 2014)

 
Before Operation Protective Edge
After Operation Protective Edge
Do you support negotiations with Israel?
54%
52%

Do you support military operations against Israel?
(The Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, October 2014)

 
Before Operation Protective Edge
After Operation Protective Edge
Do you support military operations against Israel?
31%
42%

In your opinion, did the recent Gaza War achieve the interests of the Palestinian people, or harm their interests?
(The Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, October 2014)

 
Achieved the Palestinians interests
Harmed the Palestinians interests
Did the recent Gaza War achieve the interests of the Palestinians or harm their interests?
53%
21%

Trust in Palestinian actors before and after the war.
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Before Operation Protective Edge (April 2014)
After Operation Protective Edge (October 2014)
Hamas
16%
25%
Fatah
41%
35%
Mahmoud Abbas
25%
23%
Ismail Haniyeh
13%
17%
 


(September 2014)/ The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research

Findings of this special Gaza War poll highlight dramatic changes in public attitudes regarding major issues. It goes without saying that the war was the major DRIVER behind these changes. As expected, and as we saw in previous instances during and immediately after Israeli wars with Hamas, findings show a spike in the popularity of Hamas and its leaders and a major decline in the popularity of Fatah and president Abbas. But, as in previous cases, these changes might be temporary and things might revert in the next several months to where they were before the war. It is worth noting that the size of the change in favor of Hamas is unprecedented since 2006. Indeed, if presidential elections were to take place today, Ismail Haniyeh would easily win over Abbas and Hamas would win the largest percentage of the popular vote in parliamentary elections. The overwhelming majority of the public views Hamas as the winner and Israel as the loser in this war. Furthermore, a similar majority views Hamas’ approach of armed confrontation with Israel as the most effective means of ending Israeli occupation. Indeed, an overwhelming majority of West Bankers wants to transfer “Hamas’ way” to the West Bank and rejects the demand to disarm the Islamist group or to disband the other Gazan armed groups. Findings also indicate that the public see Iran, Turkey, and Qatar as the most instrumental in supporting Hamas and helping Gazans remain steadfast against the Israeli attacks. By contrast, Egypt’s role is seen as week and unhelpful. Indeed, a majority believes that Egypt played a negative role in the ceasefire negotiations. Finally, despite the fact that the Palestinian Authority, Abbas, and prime minister Rami al Hamdallah received little positive evaluation for their role during the war, a majority tends to give the reconciliation government a big role in the affairs of the Gaza Strip in the post war period. For example, a majority wants it to control border crossings and to supervise police and security sector employees; the largest percentage wants it to control borders with Israel and Egypt and to lead the reconstruction process in the Strip.

In your opinion, who won the recent Gaza War (Operation Protective Edge)?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
August 2014
September 2014
Hamas won the recent Gaza War
79%
69%
Israel won the recent Gaza War
3%
Neither side was the winner
17%
22%
 

In your opinion, does the cease-fire agreed to by both parties address and satisfy Palestinian interests?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Total
The cease-fire does address and satisfy Palestinian interests
63%
The cease-fire does not address or satisfy Palestinin interests
34%

In your opinion, should armed groups in the Gaza Strip such as Hamas be disarmed?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
August 2014
September 2014
Armed groups in Gaza should NOT be disarmed
57%
50%
Armed groups in Gaza should be disarmed but only after the Israel lifts the seige of Gaza and elections are held
25%
Armed groups in Gaza should be disarmed but only after reaching a peace agreement with Israel
13%
 

How would you describe Egypt's role in attempts at brokering a cease-fire?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
August 2014
September 2014
Positive
25%
21%
Negative
52%
57%
Neutral
22%
21%
 

Should the responsibility for the reconstruction of Gaza fall to the reconciliation government or Hamas?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Total
The reconstruction of Gaza should be handled by the reconciliation government.
44%
The reconstruction of Gaza should be handled by Hamas
39%
 

In your opinion what are the chances of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations starting up again?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Total
Medium-High
47%
Low-Non Existent
51%
 

In your opinion what would be the best way to establish a soverign Palestinian state next to Israel?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Total
Armed confrontation
53%
Negotiations
22%
Popular, non-violent resistance
20%
 

Approval ratings of Palestinian actors during the war.
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Approval Rating
Prime Minister Rami al Hamdallah
35%
The Palestinian Authority
36%
Mahmoud Abbas
39%
The Interim Reconciliation Government
43%
The PLO
44%
Khalid Meshaal
78%
Hamas
88%
 

Should rockets continue to be launched from within the Gaza Strip at Israel if Israel does not lift the blockade?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Total
Yes, rockets should continue to be launched
80%
No, we should not launch rockets at Israel
20%
 

Is launching rockets from within populated areas in Gaza justified?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Total
Yes, launching rockets from populated areas is justified
57%
No, launching rockets from populated areas is not justified
39%
 

Sources: The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, The Jerusalem Post (October 29, 2014)