JMCC Public Opinion Poll No. 22 - Part I
On Palestinian Attitudes Towards Current Issues
August 1997
The first Palestinian public opinion poll to be conducted following the recent bombings in Jerusalem and the subsequent Israeli measures shows that:
A random sample of 1,195 Palestinians, over the age of 18 years, were interviewed throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip on 20, 21 and 22 August 1997. The interviews were conducted on randomly selected homes, and the subjects inside each home were also selected randomly according to Kish tables. The interviews were conducted in 60 sampling points chosen randomly according to population.
In the West Bank, 756 people were surveyed from the following areas: Jerusalem: Old city, a-Ram, Dhahyat al Barid, Beit Hanina, Beith Hanina Refugee Camp (RC), Silwan, Ras al-Amoud, Sheikh Jarrah, Wadi al-Joz. Bethlehem: Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Deiheishe RC. Hebron: Hebron, Fawar RC, Beit Ummar, Dura, Bani Naim, Beit Ula. Jenin: Jenin, Jenin RC, Sanour, Maythaloun, al-Shuhada, 'Arabeh, al-Yamoun, Burqeen, Qabatia, Zababdeh. Tulkarem: Tulkarem, Tuklarem RC, Nazlet Issa, Baqa sharqia, Zeita, Sida. Qalqilia: Qalqilia. Nablus: Nablus, Balta RC, Beit Dajan, 'Asira, Salfit, Bureen, Madama. Ramallah: Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jalzon RC, Jifna, Beinia, al-Mizra' al-Sharqia. Jericho: Jericho.
In the Gaza Strip, 439 people were surveyed from: Khan Younis, Rafah, Maghazi RC, Gaza City, Sabra, Khan Younis RC, Sheikh Radwan, Al-Daraj, Al-Tuffah, Al-Naser, Jabalia RC, Shati' RC, Breige RC, Beit Lahia, Beith Hanoun, Shaoura RC, Rafah, Al-Rimal, Shoujai'a, Jabalia al-Balad, Deir al-Balah, Tal al-Sultan, Nseirat RC.
The major of error is plus or minus 3% with a confidence level of 95%.
Q.1 In general, to what extent would you say you are optimistic about the future? Would you say you are very optimistic, optimistic, pessimistic, or very pessimistic?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| Very optimistic |
5.8% |
5.3% |
6.6% |
| Optimistic |
56.0% |
54.1% |
59.2% |
| Pessimistic |
28.3% |
30.4% |
24.6% |
| Very Pessimistic |
9.0% |
9.7% |
7.7% |
| No answer |
0.9% |
0.5% |
1.9% |
Q.2 In general, do you support or oppose the current peace process between the Palestinians and Israel? Do you strongly support, somewhat support, strongly oppose or somewhat oppose?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip | |
| Strongly support |
21.6% |
22.2% |
20.5% |
| Somewhat support |
46.4% |
45.1% |
48.5% |
| Strongly oppose |
13.4% |
12.6% |
14.8% |
| Somewhat oppose |
12.6% |
13.9% |
10.5% |
| No answer |
6.0% |
6.2% |
5.7% |
Q.3 Now that the Oslo agreements for the transitional period have been implemented for some time, to what extent your support or oppose these agreements?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| Strongly support |
10.5% |
10.6% |
10.3% |
| Cautiously support |
53.6% |
54.2% |
52.6% |
| Do not support |
28.4% |
27.9% |
29.2% |
| No answer |
7.5% |
7.3% |
7.9% |
Q. 4 In general, how would you rate the overall performance of the Palestinian Authority? Would you say that its performance has been very good, good, bad, or very bad?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| Very good |
11.7% |
11.6% |
11.8% |
| Good |
55.0% |
55.8% |
53.5% |
| Bad |
19.6% |
18.9% |
20.7% |
| Very bad |
8.7% |
8.2% |
9.6% |
| No answer |
5.0% |
5.5% |
4.4% |
Q.5 Looking back at the last year and a half since the Council has been elected, what is your opinion about its performance in general? Would you say you are very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied or very dissatisfied?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| Very satisfied |
5.2% |
4.0% |
7.3% |
| Satisfied |
33.1% |
33.9% |
31.9% |
| Dissatisfied |
38.7% |
39.4% |
37.6% |
| Very dissatisfied |
17.1% |
16.7% |
17.8% |
| No answer |
5.9% |
6.0% |
5.4% |
Q.6 Some Palestinians 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 that there isn't any corruption. What do you think?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| There is a great deal |
47.3% |
43.1% |
54.4% |
| There is a fair amount |
43.3% |
46.4% |
37.8% |
| There is hardly any at all |
5.5% |
6.3% |
4.1% |
| No answer |
3.9% |
4.2% |
3.7% |
Q. 7 Do your support the suicide bombing against Israeli targets in the current political conditions?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| Yes |
28.2% |
27.1% |
30.1% |
| No |
56.0% |
56.1% |
55.8% |
| Others |
2.9% |
2.9% |
3.0% |
| No answer |
12.9% |
13.9% |
11.1% |
Q. 8 Do you support or oppose the way Yasser Arafat is handling his job as President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| Strongly support |
26.9% |
22.1% |
35.1% |
| Somewhat support |
39.3% |
41.9% |
34.9% |
| Strongly oppose |
11.7% |
12.6% |
10.3% |
| Somewhat oppose |
17.6% |
18.5% |
15.9% |
| No answer |
4.5% |
4.9% |
3.8% |