Palestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 3
Date
2003-11
Authors
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Publisher
An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit
Abstract
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.