Background: Following the Gaza incidents, President Mahmoud Abbas issued three presidential decrees by which he dissolved the unity government led by Ismael Hanyieh, declared a state of emergency in all the Palestinian territories, and formed a new emergency government headed by Salam Fayyad. Following these decrees, Ismael Hanyieh denounced the President's decrees as "illegitimate" and "unconstitutional"; Hamas, therefore did not recognize the President's decrees. I view of these developments, the European Union (EU), the United States (US), and several other foreign countries announced their support to the "legitimate" authority led by Mahmoud Abbas and the Arab League; the Arab countries followed suit. After the Gaza turmoil, several Arab and international inquiries are posed with reference to the economic, humanitarian, and more importantly political destiny of the Gaza Strip. Despite emphases made by the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, and Hamas movement in Gaza on the geographical unity of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the future awaiting Gaza within this conflict remains obscure.
The Results Following are the results of the 28^th Palestinian Public Opinion Poll conducted by the Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies at An-Najah National University during the period from June 21-22, 2007. The University sponsors all polls conducted by its Center. This poll undertook Palestinian public opinion in the new political realities on the Palestinian scene, particularly in the incidents that took place in the Gaza Strip which led to the domination of Hamas over the Strip, and the presidential decrees that President Mahmoud Abbas issued which led to dissolving the unity government and the formation of an emergency government. This poll also undertook the attitude of Palestinian people towards the coming elections in addition to political affiliation. The sample included 863 persons whose age group is 18 and above and who have the right to vote. The questionnaire was only distributed in the West Bank due to the difficult security circumstances in Gaza. The sample was drawn randomly and the margin of error is about ±3.4%; still 2.8% of the members of the sample refused to answer the questionnaire.

Title

Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Unit, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine, 21-22 June 2007

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Publisher Country

Palestine

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

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Year

2007

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