Palestinian Views on the Shalit Prisoner Exchange

Who won more out of the deal, Hamas or Israel? (Palestinian Center for Policy & Survey Research, December 17, 2011)

Hamas	~75%
Israel	22%

Has your support for Hamas increased or decreased after the exchange deal? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

increased	37%
decreased	10%

Was Hamas right to agree to Israel's condition that stipulated that top leaders like Ahmad Sa'dat, Ibrahim Hamid and Marwan Barghouti would be excluded from the deal? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

yes	55%
no - Hamas should not have agreed to this condition	40%

Was Hamas right to agree to Israel's condition that a number of released prisoners would be deported? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

yes	53%
no - Hamas should not have agreed to this condition	43%

Are you content with the exchange of prisoners agreement that was reached between Israel and Hamas which will lead to the release of Gilad Shalit in return for releasing 1027 Palestinian prisoners some of whom are sentenced to long term imprisonment? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	67.7%
No	11.0%
No opinion/Don't know	2.9%

Do you think that the exchange of prisoners agreement that was reached between Israel and Hamas will increase the popularity of Hamas among Palestinians? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

	West Bank	Gaza Strip	Total
Yes	75.5%	54.4%	67.7%
No	19.7%	35.0%	25.3%
No opinion/Don't know	4.8%	10.6%	6.9%

Do you think that the exchange of prisoners agreement that was reached between Israel and Hamas will speed the reconciliation process? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes	63.5%
No	27.0%
No opinion/Don't know	9.5%

Why do you think that Israel agreed to conclude a prisoners exchange deal at this particular time? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

To curb the current internal waves of protests and strikes	49.2%
Because of the conditions that prevailed after the Arab Spring	16.8%
Because the PLO submitted a bid for the recognition of the Palestinian State in the UN	23.7%
No opinion/Don't know	10.2%

Why do you think that Hamas agreed to conclude a prisoners exchange deal at this particular time? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

To obtain a committment from Israel not to assassinate Hamas leaders if they leave Damascus	15.3%
To increase its popularity among the Palestinian People	40.6%
Because of the conditions that prevailed after the Arab Springs	12.6%
Because the PLO submitted a bid for the recognition of the Palestinian State in the UN	15.9%
No opinion/Don't know	15.5%