This opinion poll was conducted at three major universities in the West Bank : Birzeit University, Bethlehem University and Al- Najah University. in May 1996. For this poll a sample of 1,060 students was selected and distributed as follows : 398 students from Birzeit, 379 from Al-Najah and 286 students from Bethlehem. For the result of the students in the three universities separately, the margin of error is +3%, while for the results across universities the margin of error is +5% for both Birzeit and Al - Najah Universities and +6% for Bethlehem University.

• The Peace Process
• Domestic Political Issues

University students are the most radical segment of the Palestinian society and the most disappointed with the peace process.

Confirming previous CPRS findings, this specialized poll found university students to be the most radical in the Palestinian community and the most disappointed with the peace process . Only 42% of all students expressed their support for its continuation: while 38% thought it should be stopped. This finding is significantly lower than that obtained in the latest CPRS poll (#23,28-30 June 1996) of the general population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Among the general population, the level of support for the continuation of the peace process is at its highest at 81%. Students also greatly differ from the general population when asked to classify themselves according to a position on the peace process. 37% of all students are aligned with a party or faction that supports the peace process compared to 69% of the general population: 30% of the students, but only 12% of all Palestinians identified with a party or faction opposed to the peace process: and 33% and 19% of students and general overall population , respectively, are aligned with neither camp.

The difference between student opinion across the three Universities on both question is nominal, with two exceptions. Birzeit students are more likely to support stopping the peace process(47%) than Al Najah students (35%) and Bethlehem students (34%) . Also , only 26% of students at Al -Najah expressed support for parties or factions that are against the peace process. At Birzeit and Bethlehem Universities 37% and 31% respectively , supported opposition parties or factions .

The students' views on the peace process tend to be consistent with their attitude toward amendment of the Palestinian National Charter, a dicision taken recently by the Palestinian National Council, to recognize Israel's right to exist and top the use of arms against Israelis. 77% of all students polled do not agree with amendment of the National Charter. Among the general population, on the other hand , 48% support the National Council's decision to amend the Charter and 32% oppose it(see CPRS poll #23).

Amajority of all students (58%) supported armed operations against Israeli targets, while only 25% opposed them. In March (CPRS poll#22), support among the general population for the suicide attacks of February 1996 did not exceed 21%. When asked to speculate about the objectives of the suicide attacks , 84% considered them motivated by revenge against Israel and 85% agreed that ideological reasons were a motive for these attacks. 59% thought that they were intended to harm the peace process: and 58% of all students speculated that suicide attacks were conducted in order to create new facts necessitating the separation of Palestinians and Israelis. Moreover , 70% of the students believed that a popular uprising would be a realistic option while only 43% thought that continued diplomatic efforts should be considered an option if the negotiations collapse.

Students are the most critical segment of the society and the most disappointed with the national reconstruction and transition to democracy processes.

On the issue of participation in the recent elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council, students were less likely to vote (64%) than the rest of the nation. The participation rate of AL-Najah University students (71%) , however, was closest to the national and regional averages of 77% and 75% (CPRS March poll #22), respectively: while the participation rates for Birzeit students (57%) and Bethlehem students (51%) were well below the national and regional averages. Students are also more critical than the general population in evaluating the representative nature of the elected Legislative and Executive branches of government , as 29% felt that the Legislative branch is representative and 40% felt the executive branch is representative of the Palestinians .

Also , 64% of all students believed that freedom of speech on Palestinian University campuses has been negatively affected since the arrival of the Palestinian National Authority : 72% of AL- Najah 61% of Birzeit and 46% of Bethlehem students expressed this opinion . In our CPRS June poll (#23) we found that only 31% of the general population felt that the freedom of expression has become worse than before the arrival of the Palestinian National Authority.

Although students believe that freedom of speech on campus has been negatively affected , 46% of all students thought that improving the economy is the most important priority for the Palestinian people. Only 16% believe that democracy is the highest priority. 11% and 9% reported that solving the refugee problem and settlement problem, respectively, are the most important issues. Such a concern for the economic situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip helps explain the strong belief (77%) among students that work inside Israel is essential for the Palestinian economy.

Students' dissatisfaction with the process of national reconstruction and transition to democracy is reflected in the decreased level of support they give to the emergence of an independent Palestinian state compared with some form unity with Jordan . Regarding the future of Palestinian - Jordanian relations , 57% of all students support two independent states , 15% a confederation between Jordan and Palestine ,11% complete unity between Palestine and Jordan and 17% some other position . The level of support for a form of unity with Jordan is higher at Al Najah (28%) , compared with 23% at Birzeit and 24% at Bethlehem universities . These results reflect a change in students' attitudes in regard to the level of support for the option of two independents states. In previous CPRS polls in October 1994 and in March 1995, for example , the level of support for this option among students was between 71% and 78% , respectively. Moreover , it is also lower than the level of support among the general population which stood at 60% and 66% during that same period.