December 24, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The vast majority of Palestinian adults are against Hamas’ military takeover in Gaza, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. 74 per cent of respondents oppose the organization’s actions, up one point since September.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The vast majority of Palestinian adults are against Hamas’ military takeover in Gaza, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. 74 per cent of respondents oppose the organization’s actions, up one point since September.

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, 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. Fatah member Salam Fayyad was appointed as prime minister by Abbas.

Last month, 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 United States 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.

On Dec. 18, 12 people died in an air strike launched by Israel against Islamic Jihad. The organization’s general armed commander—Majed al-Harrazin—was killed in the operation. Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak congratulated the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) for the "successful operations" in Gaza, adding, "I hope these successes continue. At the same time we must be on our guard for the responses that may come from the other side."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose Hamas’ military takeover in Gaza?

	Dec. 2007	Sept. 2007
Support	21%	22%
Oppose	74%	73%
Not sure	5%	5%

Source: Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews to 1,270 Palestinian adults in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, conducted from Dec. 11 to Dec. 16, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.