July 03, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in the Palestinian Territories think an emergency government led by the Fatah faction in the West Bank will be incapable of reaching Gaza, where Hamas has taken control, according to a poll by the An-Najah National University. 55.4 per cent of respondents believe Fatah will not extend its mandate into the Gaza Strip.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in the Palestinian Territories think an emergency government led by the Fatah faction in the West Bank will be incapable of reaching Gaza, where Hamas has taken control, according to a poll by the An-Najah National University. 55.4 per cent of respondents believe Fatah will not extend its mandate into the Gaza Strip.

Fatah candidate Mahmoud Abbas won the January 2005 presidential ballot 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.

On Feb. 8 in Saudi Arabia, 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. The new coalition government was sworn in on Mar. 17.

On Jun. 14, 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. 51.8 per cent of respondents think Hamas' actions amount to staging a coup against the Palestinian legitimacy.

On Jun. 19, Egypt's Foreign Affairs Ministry announced the country would move its embassy from Gaza into Ramallah, in the West Bank, as a sign of rejection to Hamas' takeover of the territory. In the statement, the ministry addressed the Palestinian people, saying, "The Egyptian government calls on all Palestinians (...) to rally around the legitimate leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian National Authority (...) led by Mahmoud Abbas."

On Jul. 1, Israel restored full financial ties with the Palestinian Authority, and sent $120 million U.S. to the Abbas-led government. The agreement will allow the monthly transfer of taxes, as well as the return of $600 million U.S. withheld from the Palestinians since Hamas' legislative victory in 2006.

Polling Data

Do you think that the emergency government will be able to extend its domination to reach the Gaza Strip in the near future?

Yes	15.8%
Maybe	24.2%
No	55.4%
No opinion	4.6%

Do you think what Hamas did was a coup against the Palestinian legitimacy?

Yes	51.8%
No	37.4%
No opinion	10.8%

Source: An-Najah National University
Methodology: Interviews with 863 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, conducted on Jun. 21 and Jun. 22, 2007. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.