October 11, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A large majority of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip believe it is time to negotiate with the Israeli government, according to a poll by Near East Consulting. 72 per cent of respondents support reaching a peace settlement with Israel.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A large majority of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip believe it is time to negotiate with the Israeli government, according to a poll by Near East Consulting. 72 per cent of respondents support reaching a peace settlement with Israel.

In addition, 55 per cent of respondents think Hamas should change its position on the elimination of the State of Israel.

Fatah candidate 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. 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, Hamas and Fatah leaders reached an accord which set the guidelines for a power-sharing Palestinian administration, headed by Hamas, which would "respect" past peace agreements with Israel. In June, amid a wave of violent clashes between Palestinian supporters of the 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. Hamas has refused to recognize the legitimacy of the government led by Abbas.

On Oct. 9, Israeli authorities confirmed that the government is building a 16-kilometre long road in the West Bank in order to communicate Palestinian communities that are currently isolated. Critics said the road will deepen the divide between Gaza and the West Bank, and further complicate peace negotiations between the two Palestinian territories to Israel’s benefit.

Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an aide to Abbas, said the road could hamper the possibility of founding a country in the future, adding, "How can we establish a contiguous Palestinian state, in the context of this policy of dividing the Palestinian land and turning it into isolated islands?"

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose a peace settlement with Israel?

Support	72%
Oppose	28%

Do you think Hamas should maintain or change its position on the elimination of the State of Israel?

Maintain	45%
Change	55%

Source: Near East Consulting.
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 457 Gaza Strip residents, conducted from Sept. 28 to Sept. 30, 2007. Margin of error is 4.4 per cent.