An-Najah National University
Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies
Tel: (972) (9) 2345113 Fax: (972)(9) 2345982
Nablus - Palestinian: P.O.Box 7, 707
Email: Polls@najah.edu hussein596@yahoo.com

Results of Palestinian Public Opinion Poll
No. 39
22- 24 October 2009

The Results
Following are the results of the Palestinian Public Opinion Poll no. 39
conducted by the Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies at An-Najah
National University during the period from 22-24 October 2009. The
University sponsors all polls conducted by its Center.

The sample included 1360 persons whose age group is 18 and above and who
have the right to vote. The enclosed questionnaire was distributed on 860
persons from the West Bank and 500 persons from the Gaza Strip. The sample
was drawn randomly and the margin of error is about ±3%; still 3.7% of the
members of the sample refused to answer the questionnaire.
_____________________________________________________________________
The opinions represented in the results reflect those of the study; they do
not, by any means, represent the opinion of An-Najah National University.

The General Results of the Poll

It has become clear that signing the Palestinian reconciliation agreement
will not take place in the near future. In your opinion, who is responsible
for delaying the signing of the reconciliation agreement?
22.4 Fateh
40.8 Hamas
25.5 Others
11.3 No opinion/I do not know

Do you think that some Arab countries seek to hinder the signing of the
Palestinian reconciliation agreement?
65.4 Yes
27.1 No
7.4 No opinion/I do not know

Which Palestinian party reaps the benefit of not signing a reconciliation
agreement?
24.7 Fateh
39.6 Hamas
26.3 Others
9.5 No opinion/I do not know

There are those who say that Fateh is not concerned with signing a
reconciliation agreement and there are others who say that it is Hamas who
is not concerned. In your opinion, which party is not concerned?
21.7 Fateh
46.0 Hamas
22.6 Others
9.6 No opinion/I do not know

Are you optimistic or pessimistic towards singing the reconciliation
agreement in the near future?
37.4 I am optimistic
58.3 I am pessimistic
4.3 No opinion/I do not know

Do you think that the sides of the Palestinian dialogue, particularly Fateh
and Hamas, are genuinely concerned with ending the state of Palestinian
division?
39.7 Yes
46.8 No
8.2 I am not concerned
5.4 No opinion/I do not know

In case a reconciliation agreement is not reached, do you expect that some
internal Palestinian confrontations will occur in the West Bank within the
coming months?
49.0 Yes
45.3 No
5.7 No opinion/I do not know

In case a reconciliation agreement is not reached, do you expect that some
internal Palestinian confrontations will occur in the Gaza Strip within the
coming months?
59.1 Yes
34.3 No
6.6 No opinion/I do not know

If the Palestinian reconciliation agreement is signed successfully.
Generally, how would that success influence you personally?
60.8 Positively
10.8 Negatively
26.7 It will not have any effect
1.7 No opinion/I do not know

Do you think that failure to reach a national reconciliation is because some
people seek to achieve---------------------?
50.4 Personal interests
43.8 Party and factional interests
0.3 No opinion/I do not know

What, in your opinion, delays the signing of the national reconciliation
agreement?
25.3 Arab pressures on some sides
32.1 Regional pressures on some sides
35.8 Factional interests of Fateh and Hamas
6.8 No opinion/I do not know

The Goldstone Report charges both Israel and Hamas with committing war
crimes during the war on Gaza. The Report arrives at recommendations that
condemn both Israel and Hamas. Are you in favor of implementing the
recommendations of the Goldstone Report?
55.6 Yes
32.6 No
11.8 No opinion/I do not know

What does resubmitting the Goldstone Report to the UN Human Rights Council
indicate?
31.3 The PA made a mistake and corrected it
29.5 Resubmitting the Report is a tactic by which the PA wanted to contain
the anger of the Palestinian public
21.2 The PA disarmed Hamas of a pretext that it would use to avoid signing
the reconciliation agreement
18.0 No opinion/I do not know

Now that the uproar relating to the Goldstone Report cooled down, who in
your opinion reaps the advantage of resubmitting the report to the UN Human
Rights Council?
31.3 The Palestinian Authority
14.1 The Government of Hamas in Gaza
40.7 The Palestinian people
13.8 No opinion/I do not know

Do you think that the Goldstone Report has been employed to serve party and
factional interests?
52.7 Yes
28.3 No
19.0 No opinion/I do not know

Do you support or reject issuing a decree by the President confirming the
constitutional date of the elections on 26/10/2010 regardless of whether the
reconciliation agreement is signed or not.
66.2 I support
22.3 I reject
10.1 I am not concerned
1.5 No opinion/I do not know

What consequences will issuing a decree to confirm the constitutional date
of the elections have?
29.6 It will deepen the state of division
27.8 It will offer an exit for all out of the state of division
37.6 It is a constitutional right regardless of its results
5.0 No opinion/I do not know

If presidential elections are held in the present time, to whom from among
the following do you give your vote?
7.6 An independent candidate
3.3 A candidate from the left
12.1 A candidate from Hamas
30.3 A candidate from Fateh
4.7 A national independent candidate
2.3 An Islamic independent candidate
24.3 I will not participate in the elections
15.4 I have not decided yet

If new PLC elections are conducted, whom do you vote for?
5.9 An independent ticket
3.3 A ticket from the left
12.7 A ticket from Hamas
32.5 A ticket from Fateh
4.9 A national independent ticket
2.0 An Islamic independent ticket
24.2 I will not participate in the elections
14.6 I have not decided yet

If new legislative elections were to be held today, which of the following
would win?
3.7 Independent Islamists bloc
7.4 Independent Nationalist bloc
48.8 Fateh bloc
16.9 Hamas bloc
1.3 A bloc from leftist organizations
22.0 No opinion/I do not know

In case Israel evacuates some of the random settlement sites in the West
Bank, do you expect confrontations between Palestinians and the settlers?
69.1 Yes
24.7 No
6.2 No opinion/I do not know

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?
60.1 The government of Salam Fayyad
20.5 The Government of Ismail Haniyeh
19.3 No opinion/I do not know

How do you assess the performance of the government of Salam Fayyad?
61.2 Good
28.8 Bad
10.1 No opinion/I do not know

How do you assess the performance of the government of Ismail Haniyeh?
33.9 Good
47.8 Bad
18.3 No opinion/I do not know

Are you worried about your life under the present circumstances?
53.3 Yes
45.5 No
1.0 No opinion/I do not know

Are you pessimistic or optimistic towards the general Palestinian situation
at this stage?

31.5 Optimistic
66.6 Pessimistic
1.8 No opinion/I do not know

Under the present circumstances, do you feel that you, your family and your
properties are safe?
22.4 Yes
38.4 May be
38.4 No
0.9 No opinion/I do not know

Which of the following political affiliations do you support?
0.7 People's Party
1.0 Democratic Front
1.6 Islamic Jihad
37.6 Fateh
14.6 Hamas
0.2 Fida
2.7 Popular Front
1.0 Palestinian National Initiative
6.6 I am an independent nationalist
2.3 I am an independent Islamist
30.6 None of the above
1.0 Others