March 27, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Residents of the Palestinian Territories are divided on whether to back peace negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government, according to a poll by An-Najah National University. 48.3 per cent of respondents would resume talks, while 49.4 per cent would reject them.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Residents of the Palestinian Territories are divided on whether to back peace negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government, according to a poll by An-Najah National University. 48.3 per cent of respondents would resume talks, while 49.4 per cent would reject them.

In the Gaza Strip, support for peace negotiations reaches 56 per cent.

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. 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 November 2007, Abbas and leaders from the United States, Israel and several Arab countries attended an international conference on Middle East affairs in Annapolis, Maryland. The meeting was brokered by U.S. president George W. Bush. On Nov. 27, Abbas and Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert announced they would work towards having a peace treaty signed by the end of 2008, which would include the creation of a Palestinian state.

The Islamic Jihad organization has been launching Qassam rockets into Israel from Gaza almost daily since Hamas took control of the territory. Israel holds Hamas responsible for the attacks for allowing the Islamic Jihad and other groups to act against Israel. In January, Israel completely sealed off its borders with the Gaza Strip and launched military operations in Gaza.

On Mar. 24, U.S. vice-president Dick Cheney accused Hamas, Syria and Iran of ruining the chance for peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel, saying, "It is clearly a difficult situation, in part, because I think it’s true, there’s evidence, that Hamas is supported by Iran and Syria and that they’re doing everything they can to torpedo the peace process."

Polling Data

In view of the last Israeli operations against the Gaza Strip, do you support or reject resuming political negotiations between the Palestinian authority and Israel?

	All	West Bank	Gaza Strip
I strongly support	15.9%	9.2%	27.4%
I support	32.4%	34.7%	28.6%
I reject	29.0%	35.2%	18.4%
I strongly reject	20.4%	19.8%	21.4%
No opinion	2.3%	1.2%	4.2%

Source: An-Najah National University
Methodology: Interviews with 1,360 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, conducted from Mar. 20 to Mar. 22, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.