(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Fatah remains more popular than its opponent Hamas amongst Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. 42 per cent of respondents would vote for Fatah in the next legislative election, down one point since December.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Fatah remains more popular than its opponent Hamas amongst Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. 42 per cent of respondents would vote for Fatah in the next legislative election, down one point since December.
Hamas is far behind with 28 per cent. 30 per cent of respondents would vote for other parties or remain undecided.
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.
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. Abbas has said he does not intend to seek a new term in office in the next presidential election, which is tentatively scheduled for Jun. 28.
On Mar. 11, Haniyeh accused the Arab League of siding with Israel over a recent settlement expansion, saying, "The decision encouraged Zionists to push ahead their settlement expansion in the West Bank. The Israeli plan to build hundreds of homes whilst the United States vice-president Joe Biden is on a visit to the region truly shows American cover to such a settlement plan."
Polling Data
If a parliamentary election were to take place today, which list would you vote for?
|
|
Mar. 2010
|
Dec. 2009
|
Aug. 2009
|
|
Fatah list
|
42%
|
43%
|
44%
|
|
Change and Reform list (Hamas)
|
28%
|
27%
|
28%
|
|
Other parties
|
11%
|
14%
|
11%
|
|
Undecided
|
19%
|
17%
|
17%
|
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. 4 to Mar. 6, 2010. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
