JMCC Public Opinion Poll No. 26
On Palestinian Attitudes Towards Politics
May 1998
The results of JMCC’s opinion poll May 21-22, 1998, indicate to decrease in support for the peace process and for the Palestinian Authority in general, despite the fact that those supporting the peace process and the PA are more than those opposing them. The main results can be summarized as follows, in comparison with the previous poll with the same questions:
A random sample of 1,208 Palestinians, over the age of 18 years, were interviewed throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip on 21 and 22 May 1998. 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, 775 people were surveyed from the following areas: Jenin: Jenin & Jenin Refugee Camp (RC), al-Yamoun, 'Arabeh & Kufr Rai, Zababdeh & 'Aqabeh & Ya'bad. Nablus: Nablus & Balata RC, Beit Fureek & Salfit, Frkha, Burqa, Huwara, Bureen. Tulkarem: Tulkarem & Tulkarem RC, 'Azzoun, Illar, 'Anabta. Qalqilia: Qalqilia. Bethlehem: Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Dheisheh RC, Nahalen, Al-Khader. Hebron: Hebron, Dura, Fawar RC, Halhoul, Dhaharia, Yatta, Tarqoumia. Jerusalem: Old City, al-Ram, Dhayat al-Bareed, Beit Hanina, Al-'Izzaria, Abu Dees. Jericho: Jericho. Ramallah: Ramallah, al-Bireh, al-'Amari RC, al-Tayebh, Kobar, Ni'lin.
In the Gaza Strip, 433 people were surveyed from: al-Sabra, Shujaia (Daraj & Tufah), Zeitoon, Rimal, Nasser, Sheikh Radwn, Shati RC, Jabalia, Jabalia RC, Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, Deir al-Balah RC, Nusseirat, Bureji, Rafah, Rafah RC, Yubna, Khan Younis, Khan Younis RC, Bani Suheila, 'Abassan.
Q.1 How optimistic or pessimistic are you towards the future in general? Can you say you are very optimistic, optimistic pessimistic or very pessimistic?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| Very optimistic |
6.6% |
5.4% |
8.8% |
| Optimistic |
59.0% |
59.9% |
57.5% |
| Pessimistic |
23.2% |
23.1% |
23.3% |
| Very pessimistic |
10.3% |
11.0% |
9.2% |
| No answer |
0.9% |
0.6% |
1.2% |
Q.2 In general, how do you feel about the Palestinian - Israeli peace process? Would you say that you strongly support, somewhat support, neither support or oppose, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the Palestinian - Israeli peace process?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip | |
| Strongly support |
16.1% |
11.4% |
24.5% |
| Somewhat support |
47.6% |
51.7% |
40.2% |
| Neither support not oppose |
13.8% |
14.5% |
12.7% |
| Somewhat oppose |
9.6% |
9.4% |
9.9% |
| Strongly oppose |
11.8% |
12.0% |
11.5% |
| No answer |
1.1% |
1.0% |
1.2% |
Q.3 Which Palestinian political or religious faction do you trust most?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| Fatah |
32.9% |
30.7% |
36.7% |
| Hamas |
13.3% |
11.4% |
16.9% |
| PFLP |
2.8% |
3.2% |
2.1% |
| Islamic Jihad |
0.8% |
0.5% |
1.4% |
| PPP |
1.2% |
1.7% |
0.2% |
| Other Islamic Faction |
3.9% |
4.9% |
2.1% |
| Other Factions |
2.9% |
3.9% |
1.3% |
| Do not trust anyone |
29.11% |
30.3% |
27.2% |
| No answer |
13.1% |
13.4% |
12.1% |
Q. 4 Which Palestinian personality do you trust most?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| Yasser Arafat |
38.7% |
34.5% |
46.4% |
| Ahmad Yaseen |
8.4% |
7.6% |
9.7% |
| Haidar Abdul Shafi |
3.4% |
3.2% |
3.7% |
| Hanan Ashrawi |
2.4% |
3.0% |
1.4% |
| George Habash |
1.8% |
1.7% |
2.1% |
| Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) |
1.1% |
0.6% |
1.8% |
| Faisal Husseini |
0.9% |
0.6% |
1.4% |
| Saeb Erekat |
0.9% |
0.6% |
1.4% |
| Other Personalities |
6.7% |
6.5% |
6.9% |
| Do not trust anyone |
24.8% |
29.9% |
15.7% |
| No answer |
10.9% |
11.8% |
9.5% |
Q.5 What do you think abou the Oslo agreement? Would you say that you strongly support, support, oppose, or strongly oppose it?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| Strongly support |
8.9% |
5.8% |
14.5% |
| Somewhat support |
55.6% |
59.1% |
49.4% |
| Somewhat oppose |
14.9% |
13.7% |
17.1% |
| Strongly oppose |
13.6% |
14.2% |
12.5% |
| No answer |
7.0% |
7.2% |
6.5% |
Q.6 In general, how do you evaluate the Palestinian Authority's performance? Do you say its performane is very good, good, bad or very bad?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| Very good |
9.1% |
7.0% |
12.9% |
| Good |
55.5% |
56.5% |
53.8% |
| Bad |
21.6% |
21.3% |
22.2% |
| Very bad |
10.2% |
11.4% |
8.1% |
| No answer |
3.6% |
3.8% |
3.0% |
Q. 7 In general, how do you evaluate the Palestinian Legislative Council's performance? Do you say it is very good performance, goo, bad or very bad?
|
Total |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
|
| Very good |
5.8% |
5.3% |
6.7% |
| Good |
46.4% |
45.4% |
48.3% |
| Bad |
25.6% |
26.5% |
24.0% |
| Very bad |
14.1% |
13.8% |
14.5% |
| No answer |
8.1% |
9.0% |
6.5% |