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- 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. 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. 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.
- 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. 20(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2006-05)The financial crisis of the Palestinian Authority (PA) escalated following the suspension of funds made by the European Union and the USA, the refusal of Israel to transfer tax returns to the PA's treasury and the Palestinian Government's (PG) failure to transfer funds raised from some countries to the Palestinian treasury. One of the major consequences of this crisis was the PG's inability to pay the salaries of its employees for two consecutive months now. In addition to the financial crisis, the PG goes through a crisis of disputed responsibilities with the Presidential Institution. Further, the Palestinian streets go through an unprecedented state of chaos, insecurity, and outlaw. Some fear that the present congestion of the Palestinian streets may lead to a civil war under the current state of militarization, and the provocative statements that officials let go here and there.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 21(2006-06)President Mahmoud Abbas announced the 26th of July the date for conducting a referendum on the National Conciliation Document of the Prisoners. By making this announcement, the President put an end to all disputes concerning conducting the referendum. Abbas has made it clear more than once that the referendum is a means and not an end in itself; if the on-going debate among the Palestinian political factions reaches an agreement on the National Conciliation Document of the prisoners, the agreement will be an alternative to the referendum. Following the President's move, the PLC members began studying the legal implication of the referendum and Hamas hastened to refuse the mere idea of conducting a referendum considering national debate as the only way to settle differences among Palestinians. Further, Hamas considered the referendum a way that by passes the last Legislative Council elections. The Public Front made its reservations on the referendum, but did not reject it. The political factions that support the referendum point out that the Palestinian people are the only source of power that determines the final say in disputed issues. They maintain that the referendum does not evade the results of the elections, and that the basic Palestinian law does not prohibit such procedure.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 22(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2006-07)Three Palestinian factions carried out a military operation against the Israeli soldiers in Karm Abu Salem near the Gaza Strip which resulted in taking an Israeli soldier as a prisoner of war and in killing another number of them. Following the operation Israel launched its military attacks on the Gaza Strip under the pretext of freeing the soldier. Several Arab and international parties tried to mediate in favor of freeing the Israeli soldier with no avail. The Palestinian factions holding the Israeli soldier avowed that they will not release their prisoner unless Israel agrees on a swap that would free, in return, Palestinian children, women and prisoners who spent a long term in the Israeli jails. Israel refused to negotiate and continued its aggression on the Gaza Strip and arrested a number of Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) members and ministers. On the other side of the scene, Hezbullah announced taking two Israeli prisoners of war and demanded a swap with Lebanese, Arab, and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails; Israel rejected Hezbullah's initiative and waged war against Lebanon. Under the above circumstances several Arab and international reactions were issued; some condemned Israel and others held Hezbullah responsible for the escalation that led to the present crisis. What is really noteworthy is what the secretary of the Arab League has said following the meeting of the Arab foreign ministers; the secretary announced the Middle East peace process dead and said that it has been decided that the case be referred to the United Nations.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 23(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2006-09)Employees at public institutions went into an open strike after six months of not receiving their salaries and after the absence of any hope in the horizon for the Palestinian Government to secure a regular payment of their salaries. The strike was interpreted by some as an attempt to cause the Government to collapse; others saw the strike as a legal right that aims to enable employees to obtain their financial rights without any political intentions. On the other side of the scene, President Abbas and Prime Minister Hanyyia are leading negotiations to arrive at an agreement to form a national coalition government according to an agenda that would be approved by all Palestinian factions, particularly Hamas and Fateh. Within the current political, financial and security crisis that the Palestinian people in the 1967 occupied territories are going through, some voices arose calling for a comprehensive solution for all of these problems. Some called for dissolving the Palestinian Authority after questioning its expediency; others called for new Presidential and PLC elections as a possible solution for the deteriorating political, economic and security realities. Such voices, however, fall on deaf ears as the official level is concerned; be it the Presidency or the Government.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 24(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2006-11)When the exchange of verbal accusations prevailed and when the two major Palestinian factions started to resort to arms pushing the conflict to the verge of internal fighting accompanied by a state of paralysis in the public sector due to the strike, Palestinians finally found no way out of the political and financial impasse other than a unity government that would include all parliamentary factions in addition to some independent figures. President Abbas and Prime Minister Hanyia promised Palestinians to form a unity government before the end of November, and the media point out that a national unity government has become very imminent, especially that rumors leaked out by some officials that an agreement on the general framework of the government has already been accomplished. On the other side of the scene, the Israeli army committed another massacre in Beit Hanon in the Strip that resulted in the massive killing of more than 20 civilians. The political outcome of the massacre was a veto by the US in the Security Council that aborted the Arab countries' attempt to pass a resolution that condemns Israel. On the Palestinian side public schools teachers suspended their strike after an agreement was concluded with the Minister of Education and Higher Education on a specific procedure to pay their salaries. As a result of this agreement students went back to their schools.
- 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. 26(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2007-03)The Mecca Accord which was signed between Fateh and Hamas led to some agreements. The most important is the agreement on the formation of a unity government that would lead to a relief from the crisis that Palestinians have been going through for more than one year. The formation of a unity government was declared and it was welcomed on the local and Arab level; the USA did not give a clear position towards the newly formed unity government saying that it may deal with the none-Hamas members. Israel said that it will boycott it and the EU has the tendency to deal with it. On the ground the chaotic security situation is still dominating the scene and acts of kidnapping and belligerence against people and properties especially in Gaza continue. Israel continues in its policy to eliminate the Palestinian existence especially in Jerusalem; Israeli bulldozers demolished part of the Western wall of the city and began excavations that, according to specialists, will not only affect the bases of Al Aqsa Mosq but also the general Islamic identity of the whole area of the holy sites.
- ItemPalestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 27(An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, 2007-05)Confrontations in the Gaza Strip are renewed after an air of optimism prevailed among Palestinian people following the formation of the Unity Government. Palestinian citizens were optimistic prior to these confrontations that the new Unity Government will restore order in the Palestinian streets through implementing a security plan. New realities imposed themselves and the new government has not succeeded in implementing its security plan yet. In the same context, the Minister of Interior Affairs resigned protesting, as he says, not granting him enough political power that would enable him to execute his responsibilities properly. On the political side, things are stand still; nothing tangible has been achieved towards ending the political and financial sanctions imposed on the Palestinian Authority despite the tremendous efforts made by ministers to end the siege. The crisis of salaries, which have not been paid to employees, is escalating especially after the strike declared by public employees threatening of a total collapse of the educational and health sectors. As for the relationship with Israel, more than one Palestinian official declared that the regular meetings between President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister have been stopped on an Israeli request. It is worth mentioning that these meetings, according to Palestinian government officials were useless. On the battlefield Israel continues its policy of killing, destructions and frequent incursions inside most areas of the West Bank and threatening to invade the Gaza Strip.
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