(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas has overtaken incumbent Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. 47 per cent of respondents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would vote for Haniyeh in the next presidential election, while 45 per cent would back Abbas of the Fatah faction.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas has overtaken incumbent Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. 47 per cent of respondents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would vote for Haniyeh in the next presidential election, while 45 per cent would back Abbas of the Fatah faction.
Support for Haniyeh increased by nine points since December, while backing for Abbas fell by three points.
Abbas won the January 2005 presidential ballot in the Palestinian Territories with 62.32 per cent of all cast ballots. In January 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian Legislative Council election, securing 74 of the 112 seats at stake. Haniyeh officially took over as prime minister in March. The Israeli government believes Hamas is directly responsible for the deaths of 377 citizens in a variety of attacks, which include dozens of suicide bombings.
In February 2007, Hamas and Fatah leaders reached an accord which set the guidelines for a power-sharing Palestinian administration, headed by Hamas. In June, amid a wave of violent clashes between Hamas and Fatah factions, Hamas militants seized control of Gaza. Abbas issued a decree to form a 12-member emergency government based in the West Bank and expelled Hamas from the administration. Fatah member Salam Fayyad was appointed as prime minister by Abbas.
Abbas recently said he plans to extend his tenure until 2010. The extension is part of an Egypt-sponsored plan to foster reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah. The current presidential term was supposed to end in January 2009.
Earlier this month, Fayyad announced his resignation, which will take effect "as soon as a unity government is formed with a time limit to the end of March." Hamas member Ismail al-Ashqar criticized Fayyad, claiming he is "is connected to an American, non-Palestinian agenda."
Polling Data
If a presidential election were to take place today, and Mahmoud Abbas were nominated by Fatah and Ismail Haniyeh were nominated by Hamas, who would you vote for?
|
Mar. 2009 |
Dec. 2008 |
Aug. 2008 |
|
|
Ismail Haniyeh |
47% |
38% |
39% |
|
Mahmoud Abbas |
45% |
48% |
53% |
|
Not sure |
8% |
14% |
8% |
Source: Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,270 Palestinian adults in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, conducted from Mar. 5 to Mar. 7, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
