These
are the results of
the latest poll
conducted by the
Palestinian Center
for Policy and
Survey Research
(PSR) in the West
Bank and the Gaza
Strip between 22
November and 2
December 2023. The
period leading up to
the poll witnessed
the launch of Hamas’
October the 7th
offensive against
Israeli towns and
military bases
bordering the Gaza
Strip and the
Israeli launch of
the current ground
invasion of the Gaza
Strip. Video images
circulating in the
international and
Israeli media show
that some Hamas
fighters have
committed attacks
against Israeli
civilians, including
women and children,
and took many of
them hostages.
International and
Palestinian reports
reported that
thousands of
Palestinians, mostly
women and children,
were killed by
Israeli arial and
tank bombardment.
Israeli attacks
targeted Palestinian
hospitals, public
buildings, and most
other civilian
infrastructure
including tens of
thousands of homes,
with many
neighborhoods
leveled completely
to the ground. In
the meanwhile, in
the West Bank, the
Israeli army blocked
or restricted
Palestinian access
to main roads while
settler attacks
increased against
vulnerable towns and
villages in various
parts of the B and C
areas.
To
ensure the safety of
our field
researchers in the
Gaza Strip,
interviews with the
residents were
conducted during the
ceasefire, which saw
Palestinian women
and children
released from
Israeli prisons in
exchange for women
and children held by
Hamas.
The
sample size of this
poll is 1231 adults,
of whom 750 were
interviewed face to
face in the West
Bank and 481 in the
Gaza Strip in 121
randomly selected
locations. The
sample is
representative of
the residents of the
two areas. Due to
the war in the Gaza
Strip, we conducted
interviews in the
central and southern
regions inside the
selected sample
homes, with the
exception of one
displaced area,
where residents were
interviewed in the
shelter area where
they had taken
refuge. As for the
northern Gaza Strip,
residents were
interviewed in 24
shelter locations,
of which 20 belonged
to UNRWA and 4 to
governmental
institutions. A
total of 250
interviews were
conducted in these
shelters, and
another 21 were
conducted in the
homes of relatives
and friends of
displaced people
from the north.
Despite the large
representative
sample, the margin
of error for this
poll is +/-4. The
increase in the
margin of error is
due to the lack of
precision regarding
the number of
residents who stayed
in their homes, or
in shelters, in the
northern parts of
the Gaza Strip which
we did not sample.
For
further details,
contact PSR
director, Dr. Khalil
Shikaki, or Walid
Ladadweh at tel.
02-296 4933 or email
pcpsr@pcpsr.org
Main Findings:
Most of the questions asked in this last quarter of
2023 revolved
around the
October 7
offensive and
the subsequent
Israel-Hamas war
and ground
invasion of the
Gaza Strip. It
also covered the
debate about the
future of the
Gaza Strip after
the war and the
Palestinian
perception of
the positions of
the various
relevant
countries and
actors. Findings
indicate that a
majority of the
respondents
believe that
Hamas' decision
to carry out the
offensive is
correct, and
believe that the
attack came in
response to
“settler attacks
on Al-Aqsa
Mosque and West
Bank residents,
and for the
release of
Palestinian
prisoners.” It
is worth noting
that there are
significant
differences
between the
attitudes of the
residents of the
West Bank
compared to
those of the
Gaza Strip, in
terms of the
“correctness” of
the Hamas'
decision (and
other matters),
as the attitudes
of Gazans tend
to show a
greater degree
of skepticism
about that
decision. It is
clear from the
findings that
believing in the
“correctness” of
Hamas' decision
does not mean
support for all
acts that might
have been
committed by
Hamas fighters
on October 7.
The overwhelming
majority of
respondents say
that they have
not seen videos
from
international or
social media
showing
atrocities
committed by
Hamas members
against Israeli
civilians that
day, such as the
killing of women
and children in
their homes.
Indeed, more
than 90% believe
that Hamas
fighters did not
commit the
atrocities
contained in
these videos.
When asked what
is or is not
allowed in war,
under
international
humanitarian
law, the
findings
indicate that
the vast
majority
believes that
attacking or
killing
civilians in
their homes is
not permissible.
The majority
(except in the
Gaza Strip) also
believe that
taking civilians
as hostages or
prisoners of war
is also not
permissible.
The findings also indicate that the majority
believes that
Israel will not
succeed in
eradicating
Hamas, or in
causing a second
Palestinian
Nakba, or in
expelling the
residents of the
Gaza Strip.
Indeed, a large
majority
believes that
Hamas will
emerge victorious from this war. A majority also says Hamas will
resume control
over the Gaza
Strip after the
war. The
findings also
indicate
significant
opposition to
the deployment
of an Arab
security force
in the Gaza
Strip, even if
its purpose is
to provide
support to the
Palestinian
Authority. The
majority also
opposes a role
for Arab states
in delivering
services to the
Gaza Strip, but
this majority is
far less than
the majority
that opposes an
Arab security
presence.
The findings indicate that the Palestinians are
questioning the
moral commitment
of the US, and
other West
European
countries, to
the ethical
values embodied
in the
international
humanitarian
law. They show
widespread
conviction that
the positions of
the United
States and the
major Western
powers show
total disregard
to international
humanitarian law
and that their
talk of a
two-state
solution is not
serious. All or
most
Palestinians say
they are
dissatisfied
with the
positions of the
United States,
Germany,
Britain, France,
the United
Nations, and
even Russia in
this war. Also,
the overwhelming
majority is
dissatisfied
with the
performance of
Arab or regional
countries or
parties such as
Saudi Arabia,
the UAE, Egypt
and Jordan,
while the
percentage of
satisfaction
with the
performance of
Turkey and Iran
is somewhat
high, and a
majority says
that it is
satisfied with
the performance
of Yemen, Qatar
and Hezbollah.
Dissatisfaction
with Palestinian
actors increases
significantly
when asked about
the PA prime
minister, the PA
president, the
PA, and Fatah. A
majority of the
public is
satisfied only
with the performance of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyyah.
Findings indicate that the ongoing war between Hamas
and Israel in
the Gaza Strip
has had a
significant
impact on a
range of
internal
Palestinian
issues and on
Palestinian-Israeli
relations. The
most important
of these effects
can be
summarized in
the following
changes:
- Support for Hamas has more than tripled in the West
Bank compared
to three
months ago. In
the Gaza
Strip, support
for Hamas
increased but
not
significantly.
Despite the
increase in
its
popularity,
the majority
in both the
West Bank and
the Gaza Strip
does not
support Hamas.
It is worth
noting that
support for
Hamas usually
rises
temporarily
during or
immediately
after a war
and then
returns to the
previous level
several months
after the end
of the war.
- Support for President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fateh
party drops
significantly.
The same is
true for the
trust in the
PA as a whole,
as demand for
its
dissolution
rises to
nearly 60%,
the highest
percentage
ever recorded
in PSR polls.
Demand for
Abbas's
resignation is
rising to
around 90
percent, and
even higher in
the West Bank.
Despite the
decline in
support for
Fatah and
Abbas, the
most popular
Palestinian
figure remains
Marwan
Barghouti, a
Fatah leader.
Barghouti is
still able to
beat Hamas’
candidate
Ismail Haniyeh
or any other.
- Support for armed struggle rises ten percentage
points
compared to
three months
ago, with more
than 60%
saying it is
the best means
of ending the
Israeli
occupation; in
the West Bank,
the percentage
rises further
to close to
70%. Moreover,
a majority in
the West Bank
believes that
the formation
of armed
groups in
communities
subject to
settler
attacks is the
most effective
means of
combating
settler
terrorism
against towns
and villages
in the West
Bank.
- Despite the above-mentioned reference to the lack of
confidence in
the
seriousness of
US and
European talk
about reviving
the two-state
solution and
despite the
increase in
support for
armed
struggle,
support for
the two-state
solution has
not dropped in
this poll. To
the contrary,
support for
this solution
has increased
slightly in
both the West
Bank and the
Gaza Strip.
This increase
seems to come
especially
from those who
believe that
the US and
European talk
about the
two-state
solution is
indeed
serious.
(1) October the 7th and
the War in
Gaza: |
1.
Hamas’ decision to
launch the October
the 7th
offensive:
- We asked respondents to speculate about Hamas’
reasons for waging
its October the
7th offensive: a
response to
attacks on al Aqsa
and to release
prisoners as Hamas
claimed or an
Iranian plot to
thwart Arab
normalization with
Israel. The
overwhelming
majority (81%; 89%
in the West Bank
and 69% in the
Gaza Strip) said
it was a “response
to settler attacks
on Al-Aqsa Mosque
and on Palestinian
citizens and for
the release of
prisoners from
Israeli prisons;”
while only 14% (5%
in the West Bank
and 27% in the
Gaza Strip)
thought it was an
Iranian plot.
- We asked the respondents what they thought of Hamas’
decision to launch
the October the
7th offensive
given its outcome
so far, a vast
majority (72%; 82%
in the West Bank
and 57% in the
Gaza Strip) said
it was a correct
decision and 22%
(12% in the West
Bank and 37% in
the Gaza Strip)
said it was
incorrect.
2.
The Israeli
objectives in the
Gaza war:
- Asked about its assessment of Israel’s objectives in
the current war,
the majority (53%)
says it is to
destroy the Gaza
Strip and kill or
expel its
population; 42%
(50% in the Gaza
Strip and 37% in
the West Bank)
think the goal is
to exact revenge
against Hamas and
the resistance and
destroy them
completely.
- When asked if Israel will succeed in causing a
second Nakba for
the Palestinians
in the Gaza Strip,
as some Israeli
minister called
for, 73% (83% in
the West Bank and
59% in the Gaza
Strip) said it
will not and 24%
(14% in the West
Bank and 40% in
the Gaza Strip)
said it will
succeed.
- But the vast majority (70%) thinks Israel will fail
in achieving its
goal in
eradicating Hamas
and the resistance
while only 8%
think it will
succeed, and 21%
think it will only
weaken Hamas and
the resistance.
West Bankers are
more certain than
Gazans that Israel
will fail, 87% and
44% respectively.
Moreover, only 1%
of West Bankers
think Israeli will
succeed in
eradicating Hamas
compared to 17% in
the Gaza Strip.
- Similarly, the overwhelming majority (85%; 96% in
the West Bank and
70% in the Gaza
Strip) thinks that
Israel will not
succeed in
expelling Gazans
out of the Strip;
Only 13% (3% in
the West Bank and
29% in the Gaza
Strip) think it
will succeed.
3.
Humanitarian
conditions in the
Gaza Strip:
- Only 44% of Gazans say they have enough food and
water for a day or
two and 56% say
they do not.
- When they need food or water, only one third of
Gazans say they
can reach a place
where they can
have access to
assistance while
two thirds say
they cannot.
- Almost two thirds (64%) of Gazan respondents say a
member of their
family have been
killed or injured
during the current
war in Gaza; 36%
say none of their
family members
have been killed
or injured.
- A majority (52%) blames Israel for the current
suffering of
Gazans in the
current war while
26% place the
blame on the US;
only 11% (6% in
the West Bank and
19% in the Gaza
Strip) place the
blame on Hamas;
and 9% blame the
PA.
- We asked the respondents whether they support or
oppose the
release, now
before the end of
the war, of the
detained Israeli
women and children
among the
civilians in the
hands of the
resistance groups,
in return for the
release of
Palestinian women
and children in
the Israeli
prisons. The
overwhelming
majority (85%; 92%
in the West Bank
and 75% in the
Gaza Strip)
supported the
exchange while
only 13% (7% in
the West Bank and
22% in the Gaza
Strip) opposed it.
- A majority of 71% of the Palestinians in the West
Bank and the Gaza
Strip believe
Gazans who left
their homes during
the war to safer
areas will be able
to return to these
homes once the war
stops. West
Bankers are much
more optimistic
than Gazans, 83%
and 53%
respectively.
4.
War crimes and
atrocities:
- We offered the public a list of acts or measures and
asked respondents
whether they are
permitted under
international law.
The majority (84%)
said it allows
taking soldiers
prisoners. But the
vast majority
(78%) said it does
not allow attacks
on or the killing
of civilians women
and children in
their homes; 77%
said it does not
allow the bombing
of hospitals; 76%
said it does not
allow cutting
electricity and
water from the
civilian
population; and
52% said it does
not allow taking
civilians as
prisoners of war.
- While 95% think Israel has committed war crimes
during the current
war, only 10%
think Hamas also
committed such
crimes; 4% think
Israel has not
committed such
crimes and 89%
think Hamas did
not commit war
crimes during the
current war.
- 85% say they did not see videos, shown by
international news
outlets, showing
acts committed by
Hamas against
Israeli civilians,
such as the
killing of women
and children in
their homes; only
14% (7% in the
West Bank and 25%
in the Gaza Strip)
saw these videos.
- When asked if Hamas did commit these atrocities, the
overwhelming
majority said no,
it did not and
only 7% (1% in the
West Bank and 16%
in the Gaza Strip)
said it did.
5.
When will the war
stop and who will
win?
- Half of the public (45% in the West Bank and 54% in
the Gaza Strip)
expect to see a
ceasefire in Gaza
in the upcoming
weeks while a
quarter (21% in
the West Bank and
32% in the Gaza
Strip) expect the
war to continue
for weeks and
months. One fifth
(28% in the West
Bank and 9% in the
Gaza Strip) expect
Israel to
“unilaterally end
the war and begin
to withdraw under
the pressure from
the resistance.”
Only 2% expect
that “Hamas and
other resistance
forces in Gaza
will stop the
fighting and
withdraw to safer
areas in the Gaza
Strip.”
- While the vast majority of West Bankers (70%) thinks
Hamas will emerge
victorious in this
war, only half of
Gazans think the
same. Similarly,
while only 1% in
the West Bank
think Israel will
emerge victorious,
almost one third
of Gazans (31%)
think that; 14%
(12% in the West
Bank and 18% in
the Gaza Strip)
think neither one
will emerge
victorious.
6.
Who will rule Gaza
after the war?
- Almost two-thirds (64%) are opposed to the
participation of
the PA in meetings
with the US, with
the involvement of
Arab countries
such as Jordan and
Egypt, in order to
discuss the future
of the Gaza Strip
after the war
stops. Only 33%
(28% in the West
Bank and 40% in
the Gaza Strip)
support PA
participation in
such meetings.
- We asked the respondents to speculate about the
party that will be
in control of the
Gaza Strip in the
day after the end
of the current
war. Almost two
thirds (64%; 73%
in the West Bank
and 51% in the
Gaza Strip) said
it will be Hamas;
11% selected a PA
national unity
government but
without President
Abbas; 7% selected
the PA with Abbas;
4% selected
Israel; 3%
selected one or
more Arab country;
2% selected a
national unity
government under
Abbas leadership;
and 1% selected
the UN.
- When asked about their own preferences for the party
that should be in
control in the
Gaza Strip after
the war, 60% (75%
in the West Bank
but only 38% in
the Gaza Strip)
selected Hamas;
16% selected a PA
national unity
government without
President Abbas;
7% selected the PA
with Abbas; 3%
selected one or
more Arab
countries; 3%
selected a
national unity
government under
Abbas, and 2%
selected the
Israeli army.
- 72% (80% in the West Bank and 61% in the Gaza Strip)
think Hamas will
succeed in
returning to rule
over the Gaza
Strip after the
war despite
Israel’s declared
objective of
eradicating that
organization; 23%
(15% in the West
Bank and 36% in
the Gaza Strip) do
not think Hamas
will succeed in
resuming control
over the Gaza
Strip.
- After the end of the war, and in the event that the
West Bank and the
Gaza Strip are
unified under the
control of the
Palestinian
Authority, only
28% (20% in the
West Bank and 39%
in the Gaza Strip)
would support and
70% (77% in the
West Bank and 60%
in the Gaza Strip)
would oppose the
deployment of an
Arab security
contingent, from
countries like
Egypt or Jordan,
in order to
provide support
for the PA and
help it to
maintain security.
- But in the event that this Arab presence, after the
end of the war, is
to provide basic,
administrative,
and health
services to the
Palestinian
residents in
support of the PA,
support would
increase to 45%
(43% in the West
Bank and 48% in
the Gaza Strip)
but 53% (54% in
the West Bank and
51% in the Gaza
Strip) would still
oppose that
presence.
7.
Satisfaction with
relevant actors:
- The overwhelming majority of the Palestinians (87%)
thinks that the
response of the US
and other major
Western powers,
such as the UK,
France, and
Germany, to the
Israeli
bombardment of the
Gaza Strip
indicates show
disregard to
international
humanitarian law;
only 10% (4% in
the West Bank and
19% in the Gaza
Strip) say the
response indicates
they are committed
to that law.
- The vast majority (70%) thinks the recent talk about
two-state solution
in the US and
other Western
countries is not
serious; 27% think
it is.
- We asked about public satisfaction with the role
played during the
war by various
Palestinian,
Arab/regional, and
international
actors:
- On the Palestinian side, satisfaction with the role
of Hamas (72%; 85%
in the West Bank
and 52% in the
Gaza Strip) was
the highest
followed by the
role played by
Yehia Sinwar (69%;
81% in the West
Bank and 52% in
the Gaza Strip),
Ismail Haniyyeh
(51%; 57% in the
West Bank and 43%
in the Gaza
Strip), Fatah
(22%; 23% in the
West Bank and 21%
in the Gaza
Strip), the PA
(14%; 10% in the
West Bank and 21%
in the Gaza
Strip), Mahmoud
Abbas (11%; 7% in
the West Bank and
17% in the Gaza
Strip), and
Mohammad Shtayyeh
(10%; 6% in the
West Bank and 16%
in the Gaza
Strip).
- For the Arab/regional actors, the highest level of
satisfaction went
to Yemen (80%; 89%
in the West Bank
and 68% in the
Gaza Strip),
followed by Qatar
(56%), Hizballah
(49%), Iran (35%),
Turkey (34%),
Jordan (24%),
Egypt (23%), UAE
(8), and finally
Saudi Arabia (5%).
The following
figure shows the
distribution of
satisfaction over
the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip.
- For the non-regional international actors, the
highest level of
satisfaction went
to Russia (22%,
17% in the West
Bank and 28% in
the Gaza Strip),
followed by China
(20%), Germany
(7%), UN (6%),
France (5%), UK
(4%), and the US
(1%). The
following figure
shows the
distribution of
satisfaction over
the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip.
(2) Legislative and
presidential
elections: |
- If new presidential elections were held today and
only two
candidates,
Mahmoud Abbas and
Ismail Haniyeh,
the voter turnout
would be only 53%,
and among those
who would
participate, Abbas
would receive 16%
of the vote and
Haniyeh 78%
(compared to 58%
for Haniyeh and
37% for Abbas
three months ago).
In the Gaza Strip,
the vote for Abbas
stands at 24% and
for Haniyeh at
71%, while in the
West Bank Abbas
receives 10% and
Haniyeh 82%.
- If the presidential competition is between three,
Marwan Barghouti,
Abbas, and
Haniyeh,
participation
would rise to 71%
and among those
voting, Barghouti
receives 47%,
Haniyeh 43%, and
Abbas 7%. Three
months ago,
support for
Barghouti stood at
49% and Haniyeh at
36%, and Abbas at
13%.
- If the presidential competition is between two,
Marwan Barghouti
and Haniyeh,
participation
would rise to 69%
and among those
voting, Barghouti
receives 51% and
Haniyeh 45%. Three
months ago,
support for
Barghouti stood at
60% and Haniyeh at
37%.
- In a closed question, we asked the public to select
the person they
prefer to see as
President Abbas's
successor. The
largest percentage
(36%) said they
prefer Marwan
Barghouti; 19%
preferred Ismail
Haniyeh; 16% chose
Yahya al Sinwar;
4% preferred
Mohammed Dahlan,
3% preferred
Khaled Meshaal, 2%
chose Muhammad
Shtayyeh, and 1%
chose Hussein
al-Sheikh; 18%
said they did not
know or chose
someone else.
- Level of satisfaction with the performance of
president Abbas
stands at 14% and
dissatisfaction at
85%. Satisfaction
with Abbas stands
at 10% in the West
Bank and 19% in
the Gaza Strip.
Three months ago,
satisfaction with
Abbas stood at 22%
and
dissatisfaction at
76%.
- 88% want Abbas to resign while 12% want him to
remain in office.
Three months ago,
78% said they want
Abbas to resign.
Demand for Abbas'
resignation stands
at 92% in the West
Bank and 81% in
the Gaza Strip.
-
When asked which political party or political trend
they support, the
largest percentage
selected Hamas
(43%), followed by
Fatah (17%), while
12% selected other
or third-party
groups, and 28%
said none of them
or did not know.
Three months ago,
support for Hamas
stood at 22% and
Fatah at 26%. In
the West Bank,
support for Hamas
today stands at
44% (compared to
12% three months
ago), and for
Fatah at 16%
(compared to 26%
three months ago).
In the Gaza Strip,
support for Hamas
today stands at
42% (compared to
38% three months
ago) and support
for Fatah at 18%
(compared to 25%
three months ago).
- However, if new parliamentary elections were held
today with the
participation of
all political
forces that
participated in
the 2006
elections, only
69% say they would
participate in
them, and among
these
participants,
Fateh receives
19%, Hamas' Change
and Reform 51%,
all other lists
combined 4%, and
25% say they have
not yet decided
whom they will
vote for. Three
months ago, vote
for Hamas stood at
34% and Fatah at
36%. Vote for
Hamas in the Gaza
Strip stands today
at 52% (compared
to 44% three
months ago) and
for Fateh at 21%
(compared to 32%
three months ago).
In the West Bank,
vote for Hamas
stands at 50%
(compared to 24%
three months ago)
and Fatah at 18%
(compared to 40%
three months ago).
- 54% believe that Hamas is the most deserving of
representing and
leading the
Palestinian people
today while 13%
believe that Fateh
under the
leadership of
Abbas is more
deserving; 26%
believe both are
unworthy of
representation and
leadership. Three
months ago, 27%
said Hamas is the
most deserving,
24% said Fateh led
by Abbas is the
most deserving,
and 44% said both
are unworthy of
representation and
leadership.
- The question about personal safety and security was
asked in the West
Bank only. The
findings show that
only 14% feel safe
and secure while
86% feel unsafe
and unsecure.
Three months ago,
the perception of
safety stood at
48%.
- A majority of 68% believes that the PA has become a
burden on the
Palestinian people
and only 28%
believe it is an
asset for the
Palestinian
people. Three
months ago, 62%
said the PA is a
burden and 35%
said it was an
achievement.
(4) Palestinian-Israeli
Relations and
the Peace
process:
|
- 34% support and 64% oppose the idea of a two-state
solution, which
was presented to
the public without
providing details
of the solution.
Three months ago,
support for this
solution in a
similar question
stood at 32%.
- Support for the two-state solution is linked to
public assessment
of the feasibility
of such a solution
and the chances
for the
establishment of a
Palestinian state.
Today, 65% believe
the two-state
solution is no
longer practical
due to settlement
expansion but 32%
believe it is
still practical.
Moreover, 66%
believe that the
chances for the
establishment of
an independent
Palestinian state
alongside Israel
in the next five
years are slim or
nonextant, and 32%
believe the
chances are medium
or high. Three
months ago, 71%
said that the
two-state solution
is no longer
practical due to
settlement
expansion.
- When asked about public support and opposition to
specific policy
measures to break
the stalemate: 55%
supported joining
more international
organizations; 39%
supported resort
to unarmed popular
resistance; 69%
supported a return
to confrontations
and armed
intifada; 58%
supported
dissolving the PA;
and 29% supported
abandoning the
two-state solution
and demanding one
state for
Palestinians and
Israelis. Three
months ago, 58%
supported a return
to confrontations
and armed
intifada; 53%
supported resort
to unarmed popular
resistance; 52%
supported the
dissolution of the
PA; and 27%
supported
abandoning the
two-state solution
in favor of one
state.
When
asked about the best
way to end
occupation and
establish an
independent state,
the public was
divided into three
groups: a majority
of 63% (68% in the
West Bank and 56% in
the Gaza Strip) said
it was armed
struggle; 20% said
it was negotiations;
and 13% said it was
popular non-violent
resistance. Three
months ago, 53% said
armed struggle was
the best way, 24%
said popular
non-violent
resistance, and 20%
said negotiation was
the best way. As
shown in figure (16)
below, West Bankers’
support for resort
to arms increased 19
percentage points
since the formation
of the current far
right Israel
government and
increased another 14
points during the
past three months.
- In light of the increase in settler terrorist
attacks against
Palestinian towns
and villages, we
again asked West
Bankers what means
are most effective
in combating this
terrorism that are
also the most
feasible. The
majority (56%,
compared to 47%
three months ago)
chose the
formation of armed
groups by
residents of the
targeted areas in
order to protect
their areas; 15%
(compared to 30%
three months ago)
chose to deploy
Palestinian police
forces in the
targeted areas;
16% (compared to
10% three months
ago) chose the
demand that the
Israeli army take
measures to
prevent settler
terrorism; and
only 8% (compared
to 8% three months
ago) chose to form
unarmed groups of
residents of the
targeted areas to
protect their
areas.
Figure
(17) below, show the
extent of the public
distrust in the West
Bank in the role of
the Israeli army in
protecting the
vulnerable
communities and that
the trust of the
public in the
Palestinian police
is much less than
the trust it places
in the armed groups
and that trust in
the PA police has
declined in three
months by half to
reach the current
15%. It also show
that a majority now
supports the
formation of armed
groups as the most
effective means of
combating settler
terror.
(5) Most vital
Palestinian
goals and the
most pressing
problems
confronting
Palestinians
today: |
- 43% believe that the first most vital Palestinian
goal should be to
end Israeli
occupation in the
areas occupied in
1967 and build a
Palestinian state
in the West Bank
and the Gaza Strip
with East
Jerusalem as its
capital. By
contrast, 36%
believe the first
most vital goal
should be to
obtain the right
of return of
refugees to their
1948 towns and
villages, 11%
believe that the
first and most
vital goal should
be to build a
pious or moral
individual and a
religious society,
one that applies
all Islamic
teachings and 7%
believes it should
be to establish a
democratic
political system
that respects
freedoms and
rights of
Palestinians.
- When asked about the most pressing problem
confronting the
Palestinians
today, the largest
percentage (51%,
42% in the West
Bank and 64% in
the Gaza Strip)
said it is the
continued war in
the Gaza Strip;
(32%) said it is
the Israeli
occupation, while
7% said it is the
split between the
West Bank and the
Gaza Strip, 5%
said it is
unemployment, and
4% said it is
corruption.