Introduction:

The Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD) carried out a national opinion poll in the West Bank and Gaza during the period of October 15-17, 2008. The poll questioned Palestinians on the following issues: the on-going Palestinian dialogue taking place in Egypt, evaluation of the government and the President, presidential and legislative elections, conditions in Gaza and the American elections. AWRAD interviewed a representative sample of 1200 Palestinians of all socio-economic backgrounds.

The Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD) carried out a national opinion poll in the West Bank and Gaza during the period of October 15-17, 2008. The poll questioned Palestinians on the following issues: the on-going Palestinian dialogue taking place in Egypt, evaluation of the government and the President, presidential and legislative elections, conditions in Gaza and the American elections. AWRAD interviewed a representative sample of 1200 Palestinians of all socio-economic backgrounds.

Main Findings:

This poll’s results show the following significant findings and trends:

• About 50 percent of respondents oppose the continuation of digging tunnels between Gaza and Egypt; 65 percent of Gazans oppose the continuation of digging these tunnels.
• Eighty-six percent of Gazans believe that the tunnels, dug between Gaza and Egypt, benefit only a small group and not society as a whole.
• A majority of 55 percent support holding Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections as soon as possible. Only 17 percent would like to see the elections postponed until 2010.
• A similar majority of 52 percent supports holding both legislative and presidential elections at the same time.
• Thirty-eight percent believe that Hamas is not serious about the dialogue taking place in Egypt, while 26 percent believe that Fateh is not serious.
• Forty-eight percent are optimistic about the success of the dialogue, while 44 percent are pessimistic.
• Forty-one percent of respondents feel that Haniya’s government is guilty of more human rights violations than the Fayyad government. Fifty percent of respondents in Gaza believe the same.
• Seventy-two percent see the Haniya government as a “Hamas” government, while 52 percent see the Fayyad government as a “Fateh” government.
• A continuing increase in the positive evaluation of the Fayyad government in terms of improving the economy and the security situation.
• Sixty-one percent view Fayyad‘s performance in improving the economy positively, while only 29 percent view the performance of Haniya in the same filed positively (42 point difference).
• Sixty-five percent view the performance of the Haniya government in improving the economy as “weak”, and 52 percent view its performance in improving the security situation in Gaza as “weak.”
• Seventy percent of respondents in Gaza negatively view the performance of the Haniya government in improving the economy.
• Sixty-three percent evaluate the performance of President Abbas positively.
• Abbas, Marwan Bargouthi, Mustafa Bargouthi or Salam Fayyad could win in a presidential election over Ismail Haniya. The latter could only win in a competition against Mohamed Dahlan.
• If elections take place today within a proportional election system, Fateh would receive about 49 percent of the vote, and Hamas would receive 29 percent. Democratic -independent groups (including small parties) would receive about 18 percent.
• Fifty-six percent believe that the outcome of the American presidential election will influence the Palestinian situation.

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