(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in the West Bank and Gaza want Mahmoud Abbas to retain his post of president of the Palestinian Authority until a new ballot takes place, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion. 57.6 per cent of respondents support this idea, while 28.3 per cent reject it.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in the West Bank and Gaza want Mahmoud Abbas to retain his post of president of the Palestinian Authority until a new ballot takes place, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion. 57.6 per cent of respondents support this idea, while 28.3 per cent reject it.
Fatah leader 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.
In 2008, Abbas 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 had agreed to hold joint presidential and parliamentary elections in January 2010, but the actual timing of the new ballot is uncertain. In May 2009, Abbas swore in a new government that does not include members of Hamas. Fayyad remained in his post as prime minister.
On Nov. 12, Palestinian election officials recommended suspending the January 2010 elections for the time being, saying that a ballot would only deepen the divide between Gaza and the West Bank.
On Dec. 16, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)’s Central Council extended Abbas’s term in office indefinitely.
Last month, Abbas appointed Leila Ghannam as governor of Ramallah. It is the first time a woman holds a position of Palestinian governor.
On Jan. 31, Ghannam commented on her appointment, saying, "I was appointed to the position because of the president’s belief in my abilities, and not because I’m a woman. It is proof that our leader Abu-Mazen [Abbas] does not differentiate between men and women, and he chooses according to skill."
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose the stay of Mr. Mahmoud Abbas in his office as President of the Palestinian Authority up until new presidential elections are held?
|
Support |
57.6% |
|
Oppose |
28.3% |
|
Don’t know |
14.1% |
Source: Palestinian Center for Public Opinion
Methodology: Interviews with 1,450 Palestinian adults in the West Bank and Gaza, conducted in January 2010. Margin of error is 2.6 per cent.
