(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in the Palestinian territories believe it is possible to see a resolution between political opponents Fatah and Hamas, according to a poll by Near East Consulting. 55 per cent of respondents think talks aimed at reconciling the two opposing Palestinian factions can succeed, while 45 per cent say they will fail.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in the Palestinian territories believe it is possible to see a resolution between political opponents Fatah and Hamas, according to a poll by Near East Consulting. 55 per cent of respondents think talks aimed at reconciling the two opposing Palestinian factions can succeed, while 45 per cent say they will fail.
Fatah leader Mahmoud 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. Hamas leader Ismail 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 extended his tenure—which was supposed to end in January 2009—until 2010. The extension is part of an Egypt-sponsored plan to foster reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah. Both factions have agreed to hold joint presidential and parliamentary elections in January 2010.
On Apr. 28, members of Fatah and Hamas met in Cairo, Egypt, to resume talks on Palestinian unity. Senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath said that despite the lack of breakthroughs in the meeting, "the climate was positive." For his part, Hamas member Mahmoud Zahar declared: "The issues are complex and we are taking an open approach towards them."
Polling Data
Do you think the talks aimed at reconciling Fatah and Hamas will succeed or fail?
|
Succeed |
55% |
|
Fail |
45% |
Source: Near East Consulting
Methodology: Interviews with 908 Palestinian adults, conducted from Apr. 27 to Apr. 30, 2009. Margin of error is 3.19 per cent.
