Palestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 6
Date
2004-05
Authors
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Publisher
An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit
Abstract
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.