JMCC Poll no. 45 - May 29- 31, June 1-2 , 2002 - Poll Result On Palestinian
Attitudes Towards The Palestinian Situation in General

Jerusalem Media & Communication Center - JMCC
Public Opinion Poll Unit
POBox 25047 - Jerusalem
Tel. 02-5819777 Fax: 02-5829534
Email: poll@jmcc.org
Website: www.jmcc.org

Methodology:

A random sample of 1179 people over the age of 18 were interviewed
face-to-face throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip between 29, 30, 31 May
and 1, 2, June 2002. The interviews were conducted in 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 739 people were surveyed. In the Gaza Strip: 440 people
were surveyed

The margin of error is 3 percent, with a confidence level of 95.

Sample Distribution
50.9% of the respondents were from West Bank, 11.8% from Jerusalem, 37.3%
from the Gaza Strip.

31.0% said they live in villages, 15.3% in refugee camps, 53.7% in
towns/cities.

49.7% were male, 50.3% were female.
69.7% were married, 22.4%, single, 2.3% widowed, 1.8% divorced, 2.9% no
answer.

The average age of the respondents was 34 years.

* JMCC Public Opinion Polls are supported by a fund from Fredrich Ebert
Stiftung Foundation, Germany.

Results: (in percentages)

Q1. In general how optimistic or pessimistic do you feel towards the future?
Very optimistic 3.9
Optimistic 38.7
Pessimistic 32.6
Very Pessimistic 24.2
No answer 0.6

Q2. What do you think of the Oslo agreement? Would you say you strongly
support, support, oppose or strongly oppose it?
Strongly support 1.7
Support 28.4
Oppose 38.1
Strongly oppose 27.2
No answer 4.6

Q.3 In principle, do you strongly support , Somewhat support, Somewhat
oppose, or Strongly oppose peace negotiations between Palestinians and
Israel?
Strongly support 6.2
Somewhat support 40.4
Somewhat oppose 25.2
Strongly oppose 27.1
No answer 1.1

Q.4 How optimistic or pessimistic are you towards reaching a peaceful
settlement for the Arab-Israeli conflict?
Very optimistic 1.7
Optimistic 24.4
Pessimistic 38.1
Very pessimistic 33.8
No answer 2.0

Q5. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly
oppose the continuation of the al-Aqsa Intifada in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip?
Strongly support 43.3
Somewhat support 35.6
Somewhat oppose 13.1
Strongly oppose 5.8
No answer 2.2

Q.6 Some believe that the Intifada is the best path to achieve our national
goals and end the occupation; others believe that the negotiations are the
best way to do so. There are some who believe that the continuation of the
Intifada and the negotiations together is the method to achieve Palestinian
national goals, so in your perspective what is the best way to achieve our
national goals?
Only the Intifada 32.5
Only negotiations 10.4
Intifada and negotiations together 51.4
I don't know 4.7
No answer 1.0

Q.7 In your opinion, what should be the end result of the current Intifada,
is it improving the negotiation conditions for Palestinians, ending
occupation based on UN Resolution 242 and the establishment of the
Palestinian state or liberating all of historic Palestine?
Improve negotiation conditions for Palestinians 3.5
Ending occupation on basis of UN Resolution 242 and establishing the
Palestinian state 42.8
Liberating all of historic Palestine 51.1
Other 0.6
I don't know 1.6
No answer 0.4

Q8. The current Intifada includes popular characteristics such as the
demonstrations and military characteristics . in your opinion, do you
support the continuation of a popular or military Intifada or both of them
together?
I am with the continuation of a popular resistance Intifada 18.7
I am with the military resistance Intifada 17.2
I am with both of them 58.3
I don't know 4.1
No answer 1.7

Q.9 Do you support the resumption of the military operations against
Israeli targets as a suitable response within the current political
conditions, or do you reject it and find it harmful to Palestinian national
interests?
A suitable response within the current political conditions 70.7
I reject it and find it harmful to Palestinian national interests 22.5
other 0.8
I don't know 4.9
No answer 1.1

Q.10 Are you with the resumption of the military operations only inside
Israel, only inside the occupied territories or inside Israel and the
occupied territories?
Inside Israel only 18.2
Inside the occupied territories only 10.5
Inside Israel and the occupied territories 47.9
I am not with the resumption of the military operations 18.3
No answer 5.1

Q.11 What is your feeling towards suicide bombing operations against Israeli
civilians, do you support it or oppose it?
Strongly support 38.8
Somewhat support 29.3
Strongly oppose 16.2
Somewhat oppose 9.8
I Don't Know/ No opinion 5.2
No answer 0.7

Q12. Saudi Arabia proposed a political initiative which was adopted at the
last Arab Summit in Beirut. It stipulates withdrawal of Israel to 1967
borders including East Jerusalem, solve the refugee problem based on UN
resolution 194, establishment of a Palestinian state in return to Arab
states' recognition of Israel and establishing normal peace relations with
it. What is your opinion on this initiative?
Good initiative because it is congruent with Palestinian goals 13.5
Bad initiative because it contradicts with Palestinian goals 38.3
A somewhat reasonable initiative but it should be amended. 36.5
no opinion 9.2
no answer 2.5

Q13. During the Israeli invasion of the PNA territories, a debate emerged
between Palestinians over the performance of the PNA apparatuses; some
believe that the PNA performance during the invasion was the best, others
believe that its work was disappointing while another group believes that
within its limited capabilities it could not have done more, what is your
opinion?
I believe that the PNA apparatuses performed in the best possible manner.
6.4
I believe that the PNA apparatuses performance was disappointing. 43.3
I believe that the PNA apparatuses worked within the limits of its
restricted capabilities and could not have done better. 44.5
I do not know 2.6
I have no opinion 2.1
No answer 1.1

Q14. what do you think about chairman Arafat As a leader for the
Palestinians during the Israeli incursion?
Very good 13.2
good 27.7
In between 26.0
Bad 14.4
Very Bad 14.4
No Answer 4.3

Q15. How did the Israeli incursion affected your perspective towards the
following:
a-Chairman Arafat:
Increase my Support 38.4
Decrease my support 34.2
It didn't influence my support 23.2
No answer 4.2

b- Fatah Movement:
Increase my Support 42.7
Decrease my support 26.0
It didn't influence my support 26.5
No answer 4.8

c- Hamas movement:
Increase my Support 58.9
Decrease my support 13.1
It didn't influence my support 23.5
No answer 4.5

d- PNA:
Increase my Support 16.0
Decrease my support 49.1
It didn't influence my support 30.2
No answer 4.7

e- Palestinian Security Service:
Increase my Support 16.7
Decrease my support 52.2
It didn't influence my support 26.1
No answer 5.0

f-The negotiations with the Israelis:
Increase my Support 12.3
Decrease my support 60.6
It didn't influence my support 22.0
No answer 5.1

g- The suicide bombing:
Increase my Support 65.6
Decrease my support 14.8
It didn't influence my support 14.9
No answer 4.7

Q16- a major debate emerged recently in the Palestinian society regarding
the need to have reforms in the PA; some believe that it is time to hold
internal reforms, while others believe that the time is not appropriate to
engage in internal reforms and a third group believes that there is no need
for any kind of reforms, what is your opinion?

I believe that it is time to hold internal reforms. 57.6
I believe that the time is not appropriate to engage in internal reforms.
26.8
there is no need for any kind of reforms. 10.8
I have no opinion 4.0
No answer 0.8

Q17- if you believe that the time is not appropriate? Why?*
because it is not appropriate to engage in internal reforms during the
struggle with Israel. 47.2
because we are not ready internally to hold real and serious reforms. 25.0
because I fear that the reforms will be superficial. 24.1
because I do not believe that there is no need for reforms 2.8
I do not have any opinion 0.9

* Asked to those who answered "I believe that the time is not appropriate to
engage in internal reforms" in question 16
Q18- what do you think is the best way to achieve real reforms that the
people are talking about these days? Is changing persons is the best way? Or
changing the laws and regulations? Or is holding elections the best way to
achieve reform?*

the best way to achieve real reform is to change the structure of the
official people 23.3
the best way to achieve real reforms is to improve the accountability laws
and regulations and implement them on others. 29.1
the best way to achieve real reforms is to hold free democratic elections
41.7
to change the structure of the official people, to improve the
accountability laws and regulations and implement them on others and to hold
free democratic elections 1.2
Other 1.8
I do not know. 1.3
No answer 1.6
* Asked for those who answered "I believe that it is time to hold internal
reforms" & "I believe that the time is not appropriate to engage in internal
reforms" in question 16.

Q19- if free democratic elections are held under these conditions, do you
expect the Palestinian people to re-elect President Yasser Arafat?
Yes 47.5
No 37.8
No answer 14.7

Q20. Which Palestinian personality do you trust the most?
Yasser Arafat 25.1
Ahmed Yassin 8.8
Marwan Bargouti 6.3
Sa'eb Erekat 3.0
Haider Abdul Shafi 2.9
Ahmed Abdul Rahman 2.0
Ahmad Sa'dat 1.8
Hanan Ashrawi 1.7
Farouq Al-qadoumi 1.6
Others 13.6
I Don't trust anyone 24.5
Don't Know 0.4
No answer 7.2
* The Following questions were open ended questions
Q21. Which Palestinian political or religious faction do you trust most?
Fateh 27.3
Hamas 22.6
Islamic Jihad 4.2
PFLP 3.7
AL- aqsa Birigades 1.4
Other Factions 3.9
Don't trust anyone 27.2
Don't Know 0.3
No answer 9.3
* The Following questions were open ended questions