Palestinian Public Opinion Polls No. 32
Date
2008-01
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
An-Najah National University/ Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit
Abstract
After President Bush's visit to Ramallah which set in motion the permanent status negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, Israel escalated military operations against the Gaza Strip and closed all crossings banning the entrance of fuel and food except in very limited amounts raising danger in the Strip to the level of a human catastrophe that the United Nations agencies warned against.
In the same context the Palestinian Authority warned that the Israeli escalation will jeopardize the negotiations and eventually will stop them. Hamas and Islamic Jihad have called upon President Abu Mazen to stop negotiations dismissing them as useless and absurd.
On the other side of the scene, the Palestinian internal crisis is still going on without any imminent breakthrough; the PA insists on its demand of Hamas to back up from their coup as a precondition for a dialogue while Hamas expresses willingness to conduct a debate without conditions.