PSR - Survey Research Unit: Poll No. 4 - Press Release

Date: 21 May 2002

Press Release

PALESTINIANS GIVE LESS SUPPORT FOR BOMBINGS INSIDE ISRAEL WHILE TWO THIRDS SUPPORT THE SAUDI PLAN AND 91% SUPPORT REFORMING THE PA, BUT A MAJORITY OPPOSES ARRESTS AND OPPOSES THE AGREEMENTS THAT LED TO ENDING THE SIEGE ON ARAFAT’S HEADQUARTER, NATIVITY CHURCH, AND PREVENTIVE SECURITY HEADQUARTER

Poll Conducted on 15-18 May 2002

The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) has conducted a public opinion poll in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip during the period between 15-18 May 2002. A representative sample of 1317 adults were interviewed face-to-face, in 120 locations, with a sample error of 3%. Results of the poll will be reviewed in full at a PSR meeting on Thursday 23 May 2002 at 12:00 noon.

For more details, contact PSR director, Khalil Shikaki (+972 2 296 4933; kshikaki@pcpsr.org). The following are the main results:

  • A majority of 66% supports the Saudi peace plan calling for the establishment of two states, Palestine and Israel, an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders, and the establishment of full normal relations and full peace between Israel and the Arab states. A majority of 54% also supports Palestinian participation in the peace conference called for by the US.


  • A majority of 70% supports reconciliation between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples after reaching a peace agreement based on the establishment of a Palestinian state recognized by Israel.


  • Support for bombing attacks inside Israel drops from 58% last December to 52% in this survey. But a large majority of 86% opposes arresting those who carry out the bombing attacks, and 67% (compared to 61% last December) believe that armed confrontations have helped achieve Palestinian national rights in ways that negotiations could not.


  • A large majority of 91% supports fundamental changes in the Palestinian Authority, including 85% support for the unification of the security services, 95% support for dismissal of ministers, 83% support for holding elections in the next few moths, and 92% support for adoption of the Basic Law or a constitution. But only 48% support, and 43% oppose, changing the Palestinian political system so that power would resides in the hands of a prime minister while the office of the president would become ceremonial.


  • A large percentage of 83% believe that corruption exists in PA institutions.


  • A majority of 89% supports a democratic political system, including 95% support for periodic elections, 82% for the election of the head of the state for a limited period only, 85% for full freedom to form political parties, 82% for free press without state censorship, and 78% for a judiciary independent of the executive branch.


  • Wide opposition to agreements reached in order to end the siege on the headquarter of the Preventive Security service reaching 65%, for ending the siege on the Nativity Church (58%), and for ending the siege around the Muqata'a (Arafat's headquarter) in Ramallah (49%).


  • Positive evaluation of the performance of PA leadership during the latest Israeli incursion into the West Bank reaches 39%, while it reaches 40% for the security services, 32% for PA miniseries, and 72% for civil society organizations


  • Arafat's popularity reaches 35%, compared to 36% last December, 33% last July, and 46% in July 2000.


  • Marwan Barghouti is the second most popular Palestinian leader after Arafat with 19% support, followed by Ahmad Yasin (of Hamas) with 13%, and Haider Abdul Shafi and Sa'eb Erikat (10% each). Barghouti's popularity reached 11% last December.


  • Fateh's popularity stands at 32% compared to 28% last December, and 37% in July 2000. Popularity of the Islamist groups remains the same as last December (25%) but compared to 17% in July 2000.


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This PSR survey was conducted with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Ramallah.

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