Polls
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Browsing Polls by Issue Date
Now showing 1 - 20 of 57
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 1(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2003-07)This poll undertakes issues as diversified as the Road Map, the Ceasefire (Hodna) declaration, the performance of Palestinian institutions, the parliamentary elections (PLC) and the political affiliation of people.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 2(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2003-09)The period between July 20, 2003 and Sept. 9, 2003 witnessed several developments on the Palestinian arena. Among these developments are the collapse the ceasefire which was declared by the Palestinian factions and the Palestinian of Authority because of the Israeli insistence on demolishing houses, and on the assassination of Hamas leaders. Israel assassinated Ismael Abu Shanab and attempted assassinating others such as Ahmed Ysasin, Abdul Azziz Al Rantisi, Mahmoud Al Zahhar and Ismael Haniyah. The deterioration in the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians in addition to some other internal and external issues led to the resignation of Abu Mazin’s government and the approval of this resignation by the President and the Legislative Council. The President entrusted Ahmaed Qurai with the formations of a new government. A new government has not seen the light yet due to the recent escalation caused by Israel’s decisions to deport Arafat. Israel’s decision brought about huge condemnation on the Palestinian, Arab and international arena.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 3(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2003-11)The period between Sept. 14, 2003 and Nov. 15, 2003 witnessed several developments on the Palestinian political arena. Among these was the formation of a wide government at the end of the legal period given to the emergency government which was formed in October following the failure of several attempts to form a wide (regular) government. Declaring the formation of an emergency government bequeathed a wide dispute concerning the use and the reasons of its formation. Further, a new political accord was reached at, after negotiations described by some as being secret, between Palestinian and Israeli activists. The accord is known as the Geneva/Swiss Accord. This Accord laid the foundation for a solution, as envisioned by its designers, that would put an end to the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis. During the period targeted by this poll, the Israeli military excursions in Palestinian villages, refugee camps and cities continued, killing and torturing Palestinians such as what happened in Rafah, Jennine and other localities. Palestinian factions continued their operations such as the Ein Yabroud (near Ramallah) operation. Still, there are Palestinian and Arab endeavors to convince some of the Palestinian factions to accept a truce in which all these factions will give up military resistance against occupation. Such endeavors seem to have come to fruition, Hamas showed readiness to accept a truce in return for some conditions, the most important of these is to relieve both sides of the agonies of their struggle.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 4(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2004-01)The period prior to this poll witnessed many developments on the Palestinian political arena. Among these were the Cairo dialogue among Palestinian factions which did not lead to an agreed-upon work program shared by all, the declaration made by the Palestinian Prime Minister concerning a possible intention of Palestinians to call for a bi-national state (for both Israelis and Palestinians) if Israel continues to pursue its current political policy, and the declaration made by Ahmed Yasin that Hamas agrees on the creation of a Palestinian State within 1967 borders without a recognition of an Israeli state. The political activities on the Palestinian arena witnessed a visible stagnation as relates to either the Quartet Committee’s role, the role of the European Union or the role of other international mediators in pushing forward the implementation of the Road Map. Further, negotiations among Palestinian factions concerning the cessation of military operations inside Israel still go through a vacuum for several internal and external reasons.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 5(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2004-03)The Israeli Government revealed an intention to pull out from Gaza as a part of a more comprehensive unilateral disengagement plan. Thus, Israel in an undeclared manner, abandons the Road Map while the Palestinian Authority still adheres to it and calls on concerned countries to put pressure on Israel to force her to commit itself to the Road Map despite the fact that some of these countries expressed their understanding of the Israeli position. On the other side of the Palestinian scene, the Palestinian cities witnessed marches and sit-ins protesting the Israeli against international and local media institutions. The Gaza Strip witnessed a series of atrocities against journalists, Legislative Council Members and public figures. As for the construction of the Separation Wall, the Palestinian Authority filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice in The Hague seeking a decision concerning the legal status of the Wall. Israel, however, boycotted the hearings of the Court. Palestinian cities as a well as other Arab and European cities witnessed massive marches in support of the Palestinian stand at The Hague and protesting the international silence concerning the wall and its impact. Further, Fateh Revolutionary Council held a meeting described by some observers as necessary and important to correct the general Palestinian course and to lead Palestinian people out of their crisis if realistic decision are made touching the Palestinian reality.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 6(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2004-05)Despite the fact that the Likud Party voted against the implementation of the Unilateral Disengagement Plan, The US Administration declared that it still supports it. The US President pronounced his support to the plan; he even add to his support his conviction that Israel has the right to keep hold of settlement blocks in the West Bank and that there is no possibility of a return of Palestinian refugees to the State of Israel. This American support of Israel coincided with Israel’s assassination of the spiritual leader of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and the successive assassination of Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Rantisi who succeeded Yassin in leading Hamas. The Palestinian Leadership announced through more than one official that the Disengagement Plan must be implemented in co-ordination with the Palestinian State. Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza Strip must be done as part of the Road Map. In a related context, the Palestinian factions held several meetings to study the possible ways of dealing with the situation after the Israeli pull out from Gaza Strip; these meetings have not come up with any result yet. On another side of the Palestinian scene, Prime Minister Ahmad Qurai’ declared that the Palestinian leadership decided to “begin the local council and municipality elections at the beginning of next July and that elections should proceed on stages”. Qurai’ said that he will ask the US and the Quartet Committee to assign a date for conducting the coming legislative and presidential elections in the Palestinian territories.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 7(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2004-07)The Egyptian Government made an initiative to the Palestinian Authority aiming at putting things in order after the proposed Israeli pullout from the settlements in the Gaza Strip. While the Palestinian Authority welcomed the Egyptian initiative, some Palestinian political factions declared their reservations on some of its articles. On the international arena, the International Court of Justice made its final verdict concerning the Separation Wall in the West Bank. The verdict calls on Israel to remove the Wall since it is not legal and to compensate the Palestinian families for the damage that the Wall caused to them. In this context, some officials at the US Administration warned Palestinians against resorting to the United Nations for dealing with the ICJ verdict. On the Palestinian internal arena, the issue of local councils elections and the mechanisms of conducting them continues to dominate a good part of the on-going debates. The issue of giving women a quota in the local councils boards is another vital issue. The debate on elections exceeds the local councils elections to call for a presidential and legislative ones as soon as possible. On the other side of the Palestinian arena Israel still continues its excursions inside Palestinian cities, villages and refugee camps with the same killing and destruction whether in the West Bank or in the Gaza Strip.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 8(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2004-09)The Occupied Palestinian Territories witnessed, in the period preceding this poll, an Israeli escalation in the military operations; the Israeli army continued the destruction, the closures and the killing of Palestinian people. The occupation forces bombed a playground in Gaza. The bombardment left tens of casualties from among the Palestinian civilians. Further, the Israeli occupation forces liquidated a group of Palestinian activists in Nablus and Jenin. On the political and security levels, the Palestinian scene witnessed a series of developments. Among these are the chaotic state that spread in Gaza Strip in particular, and some other West Bank cities in general, especially Nablus and Ramallah. An armed group kidnapped some foreigners and detained them for some hours. Other groups stormed into a number of sites that belong to the Palestinian Authority; some top Palestinian officers were kidnapped. In view of the above realities, a number of the leaders of the security apparatuses submitted their resignation; a state of dissatisfaction dominated the Palestinian scene. Prime Minister Ahmed Qurai submitted his resignation and withdrew it twice within the last sixty days. The Palestinian Legislative Council, announced the suspension of its sessions for one month protesting the lack of respect and attention for its decisions by the Palestinian Authority. Consequently, several declarations and calls for a comprehensive internal reformation were issued by ministers, PLC members, representatives of political factions, security officials and others. Such calls did not lead to any substantial result. In the Palestinian Territories, the election registration campaign was launched in preparation for the general elections which have not been given a specific date. There are efforts paid to urge people to register for the elections, but the news tell of very weak and slow registration process.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 9(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2004-11)After successive negations by top Palestinian officials of the news reporting a deterioration of Arafat’s health, he was taken to a military hospital in Paris for a possible diagnosis that would reveal the nature of his sickness. Despite all assurances that the Palestinian president does not suffer from a dangerous disease, fear among Palestinian people is not contained. Despite Arafat’s absence from the Palestinian scene because of his sickness, Palestinian officials confirmed that such absence will not leave any political or security gaps, nor will it lead to any kind of chaos in the Palestinian street. Within this atmosphere of assurances, the PLO’s Executive Committee held a meeting chaired by Mahmoud Abbas and Ahmad Qurai’ was said to chair the Palestinian Security Council until the return of Arafat. On the other side of the scene, the Israeli Knesset approved of Sharon’s unilateral disengagement plan, which calls for a redeployment of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the evacuation of settlements there. The Palestinian official response to this plan confirmed adherence to the Road Map agreement and stated that any withdrawal from Gaza should be in co-ordination with the Palestinian Authority. Several Palestinian factions consider the withdrawal a victory resulting from Palestinian resistance. On the side of elections, the registration come to an end and official data have not been fixed neither for conducting the local council election nor the presidential and legislative ones.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 10(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2005-01)Within an international and local attention paid to Palestinian presidential elections, the candidates launched their campaigns which are basically focusing on the adherence to Palestinian basic demands which are summed up as: an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, the right to remove all settlements and the right of return. These demands are added to fighting corruption, reinforcing the rule of law, putting an end to chaos and insecurity on the Palestinian scene. Along with these realities, there comes the boycott of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad to the presidential elections both as candidates and as voters. The Public Front however decided not offer a candidate and it declared its support for the independent candidate Mustafa al-Barghouti. As for Fateh, the People's Party and the Democratic Front, each one of them nominated a candidate for presidency. This is in addition to the fact that there are four independent candidates making the total numbers of candidates competing to occupy the position of the head of the Palestinian Authority seven. The first round of Palestinian local councils’ election is over; elections were conducted in 26 locations on the 23rd of December, 04. In these elections, Fateh and Hamas won the majority of all seats. It seems, however, that the presidential elections, regardless of who will win, will not lead to a breakthrough in the negotiation arena with the Israelis. Israel has already rejected the idea of a conference following Palestinian presidential elections in London to reactivate the Peace Process, which the British Prime Minster called for. Meanwhile, Israel is still involved in assassinations, the demolishing of houses, incursions in Palestinian cities, villages and refugee camps, heedless of local and international calls for a truce.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 11(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2005-03)There has been a revival of local, national and international diplomatic activities since the inauguration of Mahmoud Abbas as the President of the Palestinian Authority to reactivate the Palestinian – Israeli negotiations. A summit was held at Sharm el-Sheikh in which Jordan and Egypt participated in addition to the Palestinian Authority, Israel and the USA. Following this summit there was the London conference which basically aimed at offering political and financial support to the new Palestinian leadership. Diplomatic activities aside, Israel still delays withdrawal from Palestinian cities which had been agreed upon at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit, confiscates more of the Palestinian lands, continues to build the separation wall and continues the killing of Palestinian people and the incursions in Palestinian cities and villages. On the other side of the Palestinian scene, the Palestinian government was formed after a long debate; it is the first government to be formed under the presidency of Mahmoud Abbas and the first government the majority of whose members are not members in the Legislative Council. The Palestinian political arena still witnesses the consequences of the first stage of the local councils elections which were held in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Hamas and the clan coalitions reaped a good number of the seats in these councils. Hamas had announced earlier that it will participate in the coming legislative elections.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 12(2005-05)One hundred days have elapsed since Mahmoud Abbas was elected President of the Palestinian Authority. A period during which he was able to reach an agreement with the Palestinian factions to declare a truce with the Israelis, and to introduce some changes in the structure of the Palestinian security apparatuses; he issued an order to unify all security apparatuses reducing their number to three main bodies. Further, Abbas reopened several internal files in an attempt to apply the rule of law and to activate the judicious system. On the other side of the Palestinian scene, the second stage of local councils elections which was conducted in 84 sites in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was completed on May 5th, 2005. The elections resulted in the winning of the candidates of Hamas and Fateh in most locations; Hamas scored advancement in the Gaza Strip. As a result of these elections some officials in Fateh resigned due to their failure to achieve a victory for their movement in their elections sites. Within this context of elections talks, the Legislative Council elections law is still not approved because of some disagreement among the members of the Legislative Council on the form of this law. While the Cairo dialogue among the representatives of Palestinian political factions resulted in passing a law on the basis of half for percentage representation and half for the circles; the majority of Legislative Council members insist on the principle of one third for percentage representation and two thirds for circles. There is a talk about a suggestion advocating a law based on percentage representation. It is worth mentioning here that the declared date of the Legislative Council elections is mid July.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 13(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2005-07)As the time for the intended Israeli pull out from the Gaza Strip approaches, the Palestinian Authority has begun intensive movements to rearrange the local Palestinian conditions in anticipation of the aftermath of the withdrawal. In this context the Palestinian President held several meetings with the leaders of the Palestinian factions whom he had earlier invited to join a Palestinian national coalition government. Several of these factions such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Public Front refused the President’s call and proposed the formation of a national committee to supervise the Israeli pull-out from the Strip; the PA rejected the proposal through different statements made by more than one PA official. On the other side of the scene, the PA intensified its efforts to control the local security situation when several cases of outlaw incidents where cited. Outlaw incidents have not become single and isolated ones; they have become a phenomenon that threatens the whole Palestinian society. Such chaotic conditions prompted officials and public Palestinians moves to put an end to this phenomenon; these moves are exemplified in the decision made by the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Interior Affairs. On the local level, the Palestinian Legislative Council ratified the Law of Legislative Elections which is based on the Mixed Elections System and that increased the number of PLC members to 132; half of them are to be chosen on the basis of the elections circles system and the other on the basis of national tickets. Upon passing the elections law the Palestinian Authority promised to conduct the legislative elections either at the end of this year or at the beginning of the coming year.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 14(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2005-09)Despite the fact that the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip was a unilateral move made by the Israelis without any coordination with the Palestinians, there goes a debate among Palestinians concerning the motives behind the Israeli move. Did it come as a result to a political process? Or is it a result of pressures caused by the Palestinian military resistance? With the completion of the Israeli pull out from the Strip, there remains the issue of the control over the border crossings hanging without a clear agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Palestinians demand full control over these crossings refusing any Israeli presence. Israel, however agreed on the deployment of Egyptian forces on the borders between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The evacuation of the Israeli settlement from the Gaza Strip was completed quietly since there was an agreement between the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian armed factions to stop all Palestinian military operations against Israeli targets during the pull out.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 15(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2005-11)The explosion that took place in Jabalia refugee camp on Sep. 23 during a military parade organized by Hamas celebrating the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The explosion took the lives of 20 citizens. The tense relationship between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas on the background of the explosion and the armed confrontations between the two sides which were reconciled later on. The launching of rockets from the Gaza Strip on Israel following the explosion and the Israeli threat to retaliate with an unprecedented harmful response if these rockets do not stop. A covenant of honor is signed on oct. 17 by 12 Palestinian factions excluding Hamas regarding commitment to well-defined principles before and after the second legislative elections. An Israeli rejection, backed by the Americans, to the participation of Hamas in the coming legislative elections. The Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian factions consider the Israeli rejection an interference in Palestinian internal affairs. They emphasize the importance of the participation of all Palestinians in the elections which will be held on January 25, 2005. The continuous Israeli incursions and assassinations; several leaders and subjects of the Palestinian factions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip were assassinated. Reaching an agreement between Israelis and Palestinians with American mediation to reoperate the border crossing of the Gaza Strip especially Rafah crossing with Palestinian suspensions that the agreement may not be honored by the Israelis. Hamas considered the agreement a weak one which reduces the Palestinian sovereignty and hurts the dignity of Palestinians.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 16(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2005-12)The immanent legislative council elections which are scheduled to be held on the 25th of January 06, occupy the attention of the Palestinian public. There is an ongoing debate concerning the number of persons, the running tickets and the possibility of out not conducting these elections on the appointed time due to internal and external reasons. These realties are added to the disagreement among Fateh on the form of the running ticket, the names and nominations of the running persons, the declarations that the US and the EU issued concerning the participation of Hamas in the Legislative Elections, and the possibility of reducing or concealing the financial help given to the Palestinian Authority of Hamas participates in the Palestinian Political system. Further, there is a serious concern among the Palestinian Public that Israel may not allow the Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem from participating in the Legislative Elections. Such procedure, if it took place, would mean postponing the elections or canceling altogether.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 25(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2006-01)President Mahmoud Abbas declared his intention to conduct early Presidential and Legislative elections after the wavering of the negotiations on the formation of a unity government. Prime Minister rejected the early elections dismissing the idea as an illegal move which is meant to bypass the people's choice. On the other side, the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) advised Abbas to dissolve the current Government since it is incapable of running Palestinian affairs. In its attempt to uplift the international siege imposed on it, the Palestinian Government represented by the Prime Minister, ministers and PLC members paid visits to some Arab and Islamic countries. The congestion between the Presidential Institutions and the Prime Minister is reflected violently on the Palestinian streets; some bloody confrontations took place between Fateh and Hamas, especially in the Gaza Strip. Within the same frame, earnest efforts are currently paid to rescue the Palestinians from their crisis; some news leaked out on the possibility of reaching an agreement that would lead to the formation of a unity government and the distribution of the major portfolios between Fateh and Hamas. In another positive development, the Government held a meeting with the Trade Union which led to putting an end to the four-month old strike of the employees of the public sector.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 17(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2006-01)The Elections Court approved the reopening of the chance of candidacy for six hours. Through the granted period, Fateh was able to unite the two lists into one. The total number of lists running for the legislative elections is now eleven and the number of candidates running through their local circles is 414 distributed among a different spectrum of parties, political affiliations and social backgrounds. Added to the above number is another number of independent candidates. The campaigns for all candidates were launched at the end of the last week. There is still a concern among Palestinian public that Israel may disallow Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem to participate in the legislative elections which may mean a total cancellation of elections. Meanwhile, Israel continues its assassinations of “wanted” Palestinians and incursions in some Palestinian cities. Further, Israel is creating an isolation belt North of Gaza Strip
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 18(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2006-01)All electoral lists and candidates launched their campaigns from sites of significance for these lists and candidates in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Candidates, then, started presenting their programs in all locations of the Palestinian Territories. Israel, however, hindered and, in some cases, prevented some of the campaigns in East Jerusalem. Israel finally agreed to allow conducting the legislative elections in East Jerusalem according to the same regulations followed in the 1996 legislative elections and the 2005 presidential elections. In the meantime, the Palestinian voters await conducting the elections on the appointed time. Meanwhile, Israel continues its policy of assassination and incursions in some Palestinian cities.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 19(2006-03)After the remarkable winning of The Reform and Change block of more that half of the seats of the Legislative Council, President Mahmoud Abbas asked Hamas to form the new Palestinian government. Earlier, Israel and the United States avowed that they will not support a government formed by Hamas; Israel even declared that it will deal with the new government as an enemy. The new prime minister made a first step on the path of forming a new government by engaging in negotiations with the parliamentary coalitions in an attempt to make them join the new government. The general attitude, however, of the second largest parliamentary coalition (Fateh) tends to refrain from participating in a government led by Hamas. The international position concerning the winning of Hamas is reflected negatively on the international aid given to the Palestinian Authority. Such reality threatens of a difficult financial crisis, the signs of which became apparent through the delay in paying the salaries of the employees of the public sector.
- «
- 1 (current)
- 2
- 3
- »