(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many people in the Palestinian territories think Hamas is mostly responsible for the absence of a national reconciliation pact, according to a poll by the An-Najah National University. 40.8 per cent of respondents share this opinion, while 22.4 per cent blame Fatah for the delay in signing an agreement.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many people in the Palestinian territories think Hamas is mostly responsible for the absence of a national reconciliation pact, according to a poll by the An-Najah National University. 40.8 per cent of respondents share this opinion, while 22.4 per cent blame Fatah for the delay in signing an agreement.
On the other hand, 35.8 per cent of respondents say internal Hamas and Fatah interests have hindered reconciliation prospects, while 32.1 also blame regional pressures.
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 agreed to hold joint presidential and parliamentary elections in January 2010. In May, Abbas swore in a new government that does not include members of Hamas. Fayyad remained in his post as prime minister.
Fatah and Hamas reconciliation talks sponsored by the government of Egypt are currently on hold. Fatah accepted a proposal for reconciliation last month, which Hamas officials said needed amendment.
On Nov. 2, Salah el-Bardaweel, a Hamas leader based in Gaza, said that talks with Fatah "are still suspended, while Hamas and Egypt have disconnected over achieving the reconciliation."
Polling Data
It has become clear that the signing of a Palestinian reconciliation agreement will not take place in the near future. In your opinion, who is responsible for delaying the signing of the reconciliation agreement?
|
Hamas
|
40.8%
|
|
Fatah
|
22.4%
|
|
Others
|
25.5%
|
|
Not sure
|
11.3%
|
What, in your opinion, delays the signing of the national reconciliation agreement?
|
Factional interests of Fatah and Hamas
|
35.8%
|
|
Regional pressures on some sides
|
32.1%
|
|
Arab pressures on some sides
|
25.3%
|
|
Not sure
|
6.8%
|
Source: An-Najah National University
Methodology: Interviews with 1,360 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, conducted from Oct. 22 to Oct. 24, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
