January 13, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Although the number has decreased since mid-2007, most Palestinians still think Hamas should review its position on Israel, according to a poll by Near East Consulting. 56 per cent of respondents want Hamas to change its discourse in favour of the elimination of Israel, down eight points since July.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Although the number has decreased since mid-2007, most Palestinians still think Hamas should review its position on Israel, according to a poll by Near East Consulting. 56 per cent of respondents want Hamas to change its discourse in favour of the elimination of Israel, down eight points since July.

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.

In November, 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.

On Jan. 7, Bush traveled to the Middle East in his first visit to the region since taking office seven years ago. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement that Bush’s visit "is unwelcome because it aims to serve the occupation and provide it with political and psychological support. (...) The visit is nothing but a farewell visit to get some photo opportunities as Bush prepares to leave the White House."

Polling Data

Should Hamas maintain its position on the elimination of Israel?

	Dec. 2007	Jul. 2007	Dec. 2006
Hamas should change its position regarding Israel	63%	68%	56%
Hamas should maintain its position regarding Israel	37%	32%	44%

Source: Near East Consulting
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 959 Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem, conducted from Dec. 20 to Dec. 23, 2007. Margin of error is 3.2 per cent.

 

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