Background
After ending a round of proximity talks
directed by the American senator, George Mitchell, the United States called for
holding direct talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis under American
patronage. Direct talks face a group of stipulations set by both sides (the
Israelis and the Palestinians). The Palestinian Government announced postponing
local councils’ elections, which were scheduled to take place during this
summer, without assigning a date for conducting them. The state of division
between the West Bank and Gaza still persists; each side continues to adhere to
their convictions and there are no signs for an imminent reconciliation nor are
there mediations to end the division.
The Results Following are the
results of the Palestinian Public Opinion Poll no. 41 conducted by the Center
for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies at An-Najah National University during the
period from 17-19 September 2010. The University sponsors all polls
conducted by its Center. Palestinian Public Opinion Poll no. 41 undertakes
the new political developments on the Palestinian side as they relate to direct
negotiations that are going on between the Palestinians and the Israelis under
US patronage and the possible consequences that result from the failure or
success of these negotiations. The poll also undertakes the performance of the governments
of Salam Fayyad and Ismail Haniyeh, in addition to political affiliations and other
issues. The sample included 1361 persons whose age group is 18 and above and
who have the right to vote. The enclosed questionnaire was distributed on 861
persons from the West Bank and 500 persons from the Gaza Strip. The sample was
drawn randomly and the margin of error is about ±3%; still 1.3% of the members
of the sample refused to answer the questionnaire.