(CPOD) Jun. 24, 2004 - The Fatah Movement is the top political faction for Palestinian residents of Gaza and the West Bank, according to a poll by the Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre. 26.4 per cent of respondents say they trust the political organization led by Palestinian Authority president Yasser Arafat.

The combined backing for radical Islamic groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad reaches 27.2 per cent, slightly above Fatah. 28.2 per cent of respondents say they do not trust any political or religious faction.

Arafat was elected on Jan. 20, 1996, garnering 88.2 per cent of the vote in a two-man contest. Current prime minister Ahmed Qorei took over from Mahmoud Abbas, who resigned on Sept. 6, 2003, after several rifts with Arafat.

Egypt has pledged to keep order in the Gaza Strip in case of an Israeli pullout. Yesterday, the Egyptian government gave Arafat two months to enact a series of security reforms.

The "Disengagement Plan" developed by Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon seeks the gradual evacuation of close to 7,500 Israeli settlers who live in the Gaza Strip alongside 1.3 million Palestinians, and calls for the redeployment of forces along new security lines.

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