(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A majority of Palestinians believe their newly-formed unity government should reject a set of conditions proposed by a group of countries and entities, according to a poll by An-Najah National University. 52 per cent of respondents think the Palestinian Authority should not accept such demands, which include the recognition of Israel.

Fatah member Mahmoud Abbas won the January 2005 Palestinian Authority presidential ballot with 62.32 per cent of all cast ballots. In January 2006, Hamas—an organization listed as "terrorist" by several countries including the United States, Canada and Israel, and the European Union (EU)—won the Palestinian Legislative Council election, securing 74 of the 112 seats at stake.

In April 2006, the European Commission and the United States suspended direct aid to the Palestinian Authority until Hamas "renounces violence." The economic sanctions were designed both to isolate Hamas and send a message of intolerance towards terrorism. After negotiations geared at establishing a unity government with Hamas and Fatah failed in October 2006, tensions escalated between armed supporters of the two rival factions.

A group known as The Quartet, which includes the United Nations (UN), the EU, the U.S. and Russia, established four preconditions to Hamas: disarming, recognizing Israel, rejecting terror and changing the organization's charter.

On Feb. 8 in Saudi Arabia, Hamas and Fatah leaders reached an accord which sets the guidelines for a power-sharing administration, headed by Hamas, which would "respect" past peace agreements with Israel. In all, Hamas would control eight cabinet positions, with Fatah taking five. Three key portfolios—finance, interior and foreign affairs—would be handled by independents.

The new coalition government was sworn in on Mar. 17. Both the EU and the U.S. have said they would not recognize the new administration until Hamas accepts the Quartet's conditions.

Yesterday, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he would work to promote a meeting with the Palestinian Authority's leadership soon in order to resume ties with the territories, adding, "What we would really hope to do before the summer is to get the Quartet together with countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, with the parties to the conflict, the Israelis and the Palestinians."

Polling Data

Do you think the national unity government should recognize the conditions of the Quartet, among which is the recognition of Israel?

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