Palestinian Views on Government Infrastructure and Political System

Note: We are presenting raw data. When available, we provide some or all of the crosstabs (i.e., breakdowns by various categories such as party ID). To analyze the data, we encourage users to read the entire study and the methodology used. Results and reliability can be affected by such things as sample size, question wording, and question order. Responses may also be influenced by context and timing; for example, if the survey is conducted during a war. The question wording is not exact in polls in Arabic translated to English).

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Mr. Mahmoud Abbas is managing his post as PA President? (PSR, December 17, 2011, June 22-25, 2022)

	2010	2011	2022
Satisfied	43%	52%	23%
Dissatisfied	45%	44%	73%

If new presidential elections were held today between Abbas and Haniyeh, who would you vote for? (PSR, June 22-25, 2022)

	2009	2010	2022
Mahmoud Abbas	54%	57%	33%
Ismail Haniyeh	38%	36%	55%

If new presidential elections were held today between Barghouti and Haniyeh, who would you vote for? (PSR, June 22-25, 2022)

	2009	2010	2022
Marwan Barghouti	67%	65%	61%
Ismail Haniyeh	28%	30%	34%

If new legislative elections are held today with the participation of all factions, who would you vote for? (PSR, June 22-25, 2022)

	2009	2010	2022
Fatah	43%	45%	35%
Hamas	27%	26%	36%
All other factions and lists	14%	12%	7%
Undecided	17%	17%	20%

Do you support having legislative and Presidential elections soon/near future? (Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, November-December 2014, PSR, June 22-25, 2022)

	2014	2022
Yes, elections should be held soon	64%	71%
No, elections should not be held soon	36%	25%

If elections are to be conducted in the Palestinian Territories at the present time, do you think they will be fair? (Al-Najah, March 2018)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	33.1%	35.1%	29.7%
No	53.8%	57.8%	46.9%
Don't know/No answer	13.1%	7.1%	23.4%

How do you assess the performance of the National Unity Government? (Al-Najah, March 2018)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Excellent	7.8%	9.5%	4.8%
Good	56.4%	60.8%	48.7%
Poor	30%	23.1%	41.7%
Don't know/No answer	5.9%	6.5%	4.8%

Do you expect municipality and local council elections to be conducted in the near future? (IMRA, October 2016)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
Yes	52.8%	57.8%	44.2%
No	40.5%	36.9%	46.8%
Don't know/No answer	6.7%	5.3%	9%

Do you believe that there is corruption in the institutions of the Palestinian government in...? (AWRAD, May 2016)


		Total	West Bank	Gaza
West Bank	Yes	88.9%	95.5%	78%
	No	7.7%	2.7%	16%
	Don't know/No answer	3.4%	1.9%	6%


		Total	West Bank	Gaza
Gaza Strip	Yes	82.3%	82.5%	82%
	No	10.8%	8.3%	14.9%
	Don't know/No answer	6.9%	9.2%	3.1%

Which government would you prefer to govern in your region? (AWRAD, November 2015)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza
Fatah-led PA	30.6%	26.0%	38.2%
Hamas-led PA	24.1%	23.9%	24.4%
Neither	40.6%	43.3%	36.2%
No answer	4.7%	6.8%	1.1%

Do you believe that the recent reconciliation government reshuffle will make the government more able to deliver services to the public? (PCPSR, September 2015)

Yes, it will make it more able to deliver services to the public	42%
No, it will not make it more able to deliver services to the public	50%
Don't know	8%

What is the likelihood that Palestinian elections will be held in the coming 6 months? (PCPO, March 2015)

They will certainly be held	6.5%
They are likely to be held	35.1%
They are unlikely to be held	27.2%
They will certainly not be held	16.7%
Don't know	14.5%

Do you think that there is corruption in PA institutions under the control of President Abu Mazin? (PSR, April 3, 2012)

Yes	72.9%
No	17.7%
Don’t know/ no answer	9.4%

Do you think that there is corruption in PA institutions under the control of the dismissed government in the Gaza Strip? (PSR, April 3, 2012)

Yes	61.6%
No	21.2%
Don’t know/ no answer	17.2%

Do you rate the performance of the Haniyeh government and the Fayyad government as positive? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

	September 2011	December 2011
Yes - Haniyeh gov. (in Gaza)	34%	41%
Yes - Fayyad gov. (in West Bank)	53%	44%

After the meeting between president Mahmud Abbas and Khalid Mish’al, do you believe Fateh and Hamas will succeed in implementing the reconciliation agreement and reunify the West Bank and the Gaza Strip? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

Yes - they will succeed	50%
No - they will NOT succeed	46%

When, if ever, do you expect to see the formation of a reconciliation government or a government of experts? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

within days or weeks	21%
only after a long time	46%
I never expect one to be formed	27%

Do you expect elections for president and parliament will be held in May 2012 or a little after that? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

Yes - I expect elections to be held then or around then	43%
No - I do not think elections will be held around May 2012	47%

Do you approve or oppose the exclusion of Salam Fayyad from leading the government of reconciliation or experts? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

agree to his exclusion, as Hamas wishes	44%
oppose his exclusion	47%

If a reconciliation or expert government is formed soon, do you expect the US government and/or Israel to punish the PA by suspending financial support? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

I expect the US government to punish the PA by suspending financial support	72%
I think Israel, too, would likely suspend transfer of custom money to the PA	80%
I expect the EU to suspend financial support in such a case	52%

Do you think that the surrounding Arab and international circumstances necessitate concluding a national reconciliation agreement between Fateh and Hamas? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	77.4%
No	18.7%
No opinion/Don’t know	3.9%

Do you think that it is possible to reach a national reconciliation agreement between Fateh and Hamas in the near future? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	70.6%
No	22.3%
No opinion/Don’t know	7.1%

In case a national reconciliation agreement is signed, what do you think the consequences will be? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Speeding the peace process	40.3%
Entangling and stopping the peace process	24.5%
It will not have any effect	27.6%
No opinion/Don’t know	7.6%

Do you support conducting presidential elections despite the Palestinian division? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

I support	33.1%
I reject	62.5%
No opinion/Don’t know	4.3%

If elections are conducted in the Palestinian Territories at the present time, do you expect that they will be fair and unbiased? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

	West Bank	Gaza Strip	Total
Yes	54.6%	37.2%	48.2%
No	36.6%	45.6%	39.9%
No opinion/Don’t know	8.8%	17.2%	11.9%

At this time, what should be the top internal priority of the government? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Forming a unity government	43.2%
Improving the performance of the Palestinian economy and creating jobs	32.3%
Conducting municipal, Palestinian Legislative Council and presidential elections	15.8%
Enhancing the institutions of the Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip	7.4%
Others	0.8%
Don’t know	8.8%

Do you agree/disagree with a recent statement by Palestinian officials (e.g., PM Fayyad) that the performance of Palestinian institutions improved significantly during the last two years? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Agree	32.6%
To some extent	32.9%
Disagree	27.5%
Don’t know	7.0%

In general, how do you rate the overall performance of President Mahmoud Abbas? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Good	55.2%
Average	29.2%
Poor	14.2%
Don’t know	1.4%

In general, how do you rate the overall performance of Prime Minister Fayyad? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Good	40.9%
Average	36.4%
Poor	19.6%
Don’t know	3.1%

In general, how do you rate the overall performance of Ismael Haniyah? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Good	20.1%
Average	37.6%
Poor	35.4%
Don’t know	6.9%

Do you believe that there is a need for a new political party between Hamas and Fateh? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Yes	36.4%
To some extent	19.8%
No	39.8%
Don’t know	3.9%

In your opinion, when should local elections be held? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Immediately	13.3%
Within six months	18.1%
As soon as Fatah and Hamas have reconciled	58.6%
Elections should remain on hold	5.1%
Don’t know	4.9%

In your opinion, when should national (Presidential and Palestinian Legislative Council) elections be held? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Immediately	12.8%
Within six months	18.4%
As soon as Fatah and Hamas have reconciled	59.6%
Elections should remain on hold	4.4%
Don’t know	4.8%

In case all efforts fail to reach a settlement aiming at the revival of peace, which of the following is most likely to take place on the Palestinian side? (PCPO, October 2010)

Unilateral proclamation of a Palestinian state and escalation of the violent resistance	31.3%
Dissolution of the Palestinian Authority and putting the world before the responsibilities for the resulting jurisdiction vacuumand the steering of the resistance by the Palestinian factions	34.3%
Keep the status quo, i.e. the Palestinian Authority, beside developing new strategies to conduct Palestinian affairs	29.7%
Don't know	4.7%

Some people have confidence in Hamas political leadership, others in Fatah political leadership, whilst others have no confidence in either. Which of the following statements is closer to your opinion? (PCPO, October 2010)

I have confidence in Hamas leadership	24.3%
I have confidence in Fatah leadership	50.9%
I have no confidence in either leaderships	21.8%
Don't know	3.5%

Six years after the departure of the leader Yasser Arafat, do you feel that you miss him or not? (PCPO, October 2010)

I strongly miss him	60.3%
I somewhat miss him	26.4%
I somehow don't miss him	5.4%
I don't miss him at all	6.3%
Don't know	1.6%

Of the main problems confronting Palestinians, which should be the top priorities of the Palestinian Authority? (PCPSR, October 2010)

Poverty and unemployment	28%
Absence of national unity due to the split	26%
Occupation and settlement activities	16%
The siege and the closure of Gaza border crossings	15%
Corruption in public institutions	11%

Which of the following scenarios do you believe is most likely to occur? (PCPSR)

	March 2010	October 2010
Unity between the West Bank and Gaza Strip will not be restored and two separate entities will develop	31%	30%
Unity will be reestablished soon	15%	14%
Unity will eventually be restored but after a long time	47%	51%

Who do you believe is responsible for the continued split between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip? (PCPSR)

	December 2009	March 2010	October 2010
Hamas and Fatah	61%	64%	66%
Hamas	17%	14%	15%
Fatah	12%	12%	11%

Which government is the legitimate Palestinian government? (PCPSR, October 2010)

The government of Haniyeh	26%
The government of Fayyad	30%
Both governments are illegitimate	30%
Both governments are legitimate	9%

Do you think that it is possible to reach a national reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas in the near future? (An-Najah, September 2010)

Yes	47.5%
No	47.8%
No opinion/Don't know	4.8%

In case a national reconciliation agreement is signed, what do you think the consequences will be? (An-Najah, September 2010)

Speeding the peace process	38.6%
Entangling and stopping the peace process	15.9%
It will not have any effect	39.2%
No opinion/Don't know	6.4%

Do you think that Gaza will continue to be separate from the West Bank forever? (An-Najah, September 2010)

Yes	31.8%
No	65.4%
No opinion/Don't know	2.8%

If presidential elections were held today, to whom from among the following would you give your vote? (An-Najah, September 2010)

An independent candidate	5.7%
A candidate from the left	3.2%
A candidate from Hamas	10.4%
A candidate from Fatah	32.3%
A national independent candidate	5.0%
An Islamic independent candidate	3.5%
I will not participate in the elections	20.8%
I have not decided yet	19.2%

If new PLC elections are conducted, whom do you vote for? (An-Najah, September 2010)

An independent ticket	6.0%
A ticket from the left	3.2%
A ticket from Hamas	10.7%
A ticket from Fatah	33.2%
A national independent ticket	4.6%
An Islamic independent ticket	3.6%
I will not participate in the elections	20.9%
I have not decided yet	17.9%

As you know, there is a government in the West Bank led by Salam Fayyad and another government in the Gaza Strip led by Ismail Haniyeh. In your opinion, which government is more capable of managing the internal Palestinian affairs? (An-Najah, September 2010)

The government of Salam Fayyad	61.3%
The government of Ismail Haniyeh	22.0%
No opinion/Don't know	16.7%

Do you support... (AWRAD, July 2010)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza
Holding an immediate PLC, presidential and local council elections?	28.2%	25.9%	32.1%
Waiting for the elections until after a reconciliation agreement?	64.1%	63.0%	65.8%
Other	1.0%	1.2%	0.7%
Don't know	6.7%	9.9%	1.3%

Would you support holding local, PLC and Presidential elections at the same time? (AWRAD, July 2010)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza
Yes	65.6%	57.3%	79.6%
No	26.6%	32.7%	16.4%
Don't know/No opinion	7.8%	10.0%	4.0%

If Presidential elections were held today, for whom would you vote? (AWRAD, July 2010)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza
Mahmoud Abbas	30.9%	28.5%	34.9%
Marwan Barghouti	14.3%	13.2%	16.0%
Ismail Haniyeh	10.4%	8.4%	13.8%
Salam Fayyad	8.4%	10.5%	4.9%
Mustafa Barghouti	7.6%	7.5%	7.8%
Khaled Meshaal	4.8%	3.7%	6.4%
Mahmoud Zahhar	0.5%	0.3%	0.9%
Not sure/Other	7.0%	9.7%	2.4%
I will not vote	16.2%	18.1%	12.9%

If the following lists ran for PLC elections and you had to choose one of them, which one would you vote for? (AWRAD, July 2010)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza
A list of Fateh led by Mahmoud Abbas	36.0%	34.4%	38.7%
A list of Hamas led by Ismail Haniyeh	14.3%	11.3%	19.3%
A list of independents led by Mustafa Barghouti	8.7%	6.9%	11.6%
A list of independents led by Salam Fayyad	6.3%	7.7%	4.0%
A list of leftist groups led by Ahmad Saadat	4.3%	3.9%	4.9%
None of the above	2.7%	3.3%	1.6%
Undecided	9.7%	12.7%	4.7%
I will not vote	18.1%	19.7%	15.3%

If the following lists ran for PLC elections and you had to choose one of them, which one would you vote for? (AWRAD, July 2010)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza
A list of Fateh and other PLO factions led by Mahmoud Abbas	39.4%	37.7%	42.2%
A list of independents led by Salam Fayyad and Mustafa Barghouti	15.2%	14.6%	16.2%
A list of Islamic groups including Hamas led by Ismail Haniyeh	14.8%	11.9%	19.6%
None of the above	3.8%	4.3%	3.1%
Undecided	10.3%	13.9%	4.2%
I will not vote	16.6%	17.8%	14.7%

If the following lists ran for PLC elections and you had to choose one of them, which one would you vote for? (AWRAD, July 2010)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza
Fateh	42.8%	40.8%	46.0%
Hamas	13.5%	10.7%	18.2%
PFLP	4.4%	4.1%	4.9%
Mubadara	4.1%	4.5%	3.3%
Islamic Jihad	1.4%	1.6%	1.1%
PPP	1.3%	1.6%	0.7%
DFLP	1.3%	1.6%	0.7%
Hizb Tahreer	0.6%	0.5%	0.7%
Feda	0.4%	0.5%	0.2%
Popular Struggle	0.3%	0.3%	0.2%
Undecided	11.8%	14.8%	6.7%
I will not vote	18.3%	18.9%	17.3%

Please let me know if you have a positive or negative view of the following political parties: (AWRAD, July 2010)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza
Fateh
Positive view	56.2%	58.0%	53.1%
Negative view	37.0%	33.1%	43.6%
I don't know	6.8%	8.9%	3.3%

Mubadara
Positive view	54.7%	48.8%	64.4%
Negative view	28.8%	29.9%	26.9%
I don't know	16.6%	21.3%	8.7%

PFLP
Positive view	42.3%	40.8%	44.7%
Negative view	41.0%	37.2%	47.3%
I don't know	16.8%	22.0%	8.0%

DFLP
Positive view	34.5%	33.9%	35.6%
Negative view	45.1%	40.0%	53.6%
I don't know	20.4%	26.1%	10.9%

Hamas
Positive view	33.5%	35.1%	30.9%
Negative view	58.4%	54.4%	65.1%
I don't know	8.1%	10.5%	4.0%

Please let me know if you have a positive or negative view of the following leaders: (AWRAD, July 2010)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza
Mustafa Barghouti
Positive view	64.7%	61.9%	69.3%
Negative view	23.5%	25.1%	20.9%
I don't know	11.8%	13.1%	9.8%

Salam Fayyad
Positive view	62.6%	66.2%	56.4%
Negative view	29.1%	25.1%	35.8%
I don't know	8.3%	8.7%	7.8%

Mahmoud Abbas
Positive view	54.2%	56.5%	50.2%
Negative view	39.8%	36.8%	44.7%
I don't know	6.1%	6.7%	5.1%

Ismail Haniyeh
Positive view	39.3%	37.7%	42.0%
Negative view	51.8%	50.7%	53.6%
I don't know	8.9%	11.6%	4.4%

Mohammed Dahlan
Positive view	34.1%	30.1%	40.7%
Negative view	51.6%	50.1%	54.0%
I don't know	14.3%	19.7%	5.3%

Mahmoud Zahhar
Positive view	29.3%	28.9%	29.8%
Negative view	55.3%	49.5%	65.1%
I don't know	15.4%	21.6%	5.1%

If you were a decision maker, would you appoint Salam Fayyad or Ismail Haniyeh for the position of PM for the PA at the present time? (AWRAD, July 2010)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza
Salam Fayyad	46.9%	48.1%	44.8%
Ismail Haniyeh	21.8%	17.5%	29.0%
Other	14.6%	13.9%	15.8%
Don't know/No opinion	16.7%	20.5%	10.5%

Do you believe Palestinian society is generally heading in the right or wrong direction? (AWRAD, July 2010)

	Total	West Bank	Gaza
Right direction	26.6%	32.4%	16.9%
Wrong direction	67.2%	59.7%	79.8%
Don't know/No opinion	6.2%	7.9%	3.3%

In your opinion, does Fatah or Hamas have the best strategy to achieve the higher Palestinian interests? (WAFA-PLO News Agency, April 2010)

Fatah	57%
Hamas	10%
There is a better strategy than the strategy of Fatah or Hamas	33%

If new presidential elections were held today, who would you vote for? (WAFA-PLO News Agency, April 2010)

A Fatah candidate	48%
A Hamas candidate	5%
Other candidates	12%
Abstain from voting	35%

What do you view as the top Palestinian priority today? (An-Najah National University, PCPSR)

	February 2009	December 2009	March 2010
National reconciliation /Unification of the West Bank and Gaza Strip	52.6%	61%	59%
Rebuilding Gaza	34.0%	16%	17%
Improving the economic situation	12.0%	-	-
Maintenance of calm and the opening of border crossings	-	22%	24%
Other	1.4%	-	-

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

(2009 - Present)