The latest poll on the Palestinian public opinion prepared by Dr. Nabil Kukali revealed the following:

• (81 %) of the Palestinians do not – to various degrees – trust the commitments of Israel and its obligations to the agreements signed with the Palestinian Authority.
• (59%) oppose the return of the relations with Israel, (38 %) agree to it.
• (55 %) oppose the resumption of the security coordination with Israel, (40 %) agree to it.
• (52 %) oppose the resumption of the peace negotiations with Israel, (43 %) agree to it.

Beit Sahour –Public Relations’ Section:

The latest poll prepared by Dr. Nabil Kukali and conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (www.pcpo.org) during the period 19 – 22 November 2020 covered a random sample of (516) Palestinian respondents representing the various demographic specimens of Palestinians (18 years and above) living in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. It revealed that the Palestinians are almost split between agreeing to and opposing the return of the relations with Israel and the resumption of the security coordination with it, albeit the opposition scale outweighs a little.

This poll, Dr. Kukali said, focuses mainly on the decision of the Palestinian Authority to resume the relations with Israel that are terminated since 5/9/2020

in response to the intention of the Israeli government to annex about 30 % of the area of the West Bank with full support of the US administration under President Donald Trump.

Dr. Kukali further noted that the motivation to take this courageous step by the Palestinian Authority was a letter from the Israeli government addressed to the PA confirming its willingness to abide by all the agreements signed with the PA.

Dr. Kukali added that the majority of the Palestinian people, in this poll, expressed however their mistrust of Israel’s intentions, as its actions on the ground speak another language. Nevertheless, the Palestinian people are still hopeful that they will have one day their own independent and sovereign State of Palestine with East Jerusalem it’s capital.

Dr. N. Kukali, President and founder of the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, said the details of the key results of this poll are as follows:

Trusting Israel

Responding to the question: “What is the extent of your trust to Israel’s commitments and its obligations to the agreements previously signed with the Palestinian Authority?” (71 %) said “I’m not so sure”, (10 %) said “I’m not sure at all”, (9 %) “somewhat sure”, (6 %) “quite sure” and (4 %) said “I don’t know”.

Return of the relations with Israel

With regard to the question: “Do you agree to the return of the relations with Israel to their former status as they have been before 5/19/2020, or not?” (59 %) said “I oppose”, (38 %) “agree”, and (3 %) said “I don’t know”.

Reasons of agreeing to the return of the relations with Israel

In respect of the question: “What are the reasons that let you agree to the return of the relations with Israel?”, (5.6 %) said “crisis of the salary payment of employees”, (4.4 %) said “security stability and calm”, (26.9 %) said “improvement of the economic situation”, (9.4 %) “peace and stability”, (16.9 %) “permits and work in Israel”, (2.5 %) “the clearance funds”, (3.8 %) “permits to the hospitals and admission of patients for treatment”, (3.8 %) “facilitation of livelihood”, (8.8 %) said “lifting the siege from Gaza and opening the border-crossings”, (6.9 %) “due to the life connected with Israel”, (7.5 %) “for serving the citizens” and (3.5 %) “no reason”.

Security coordination with Israel

(55 %) of the Palestinians oppose the resumption of the security coordination with Israel, whilst (40 %) agree to it, and (5 %) declined to respond.

Resumption of the peace negotiations

(52 %) of the Palestinian public oppose the resumption of the peace negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel at present, whilst (43 %) of them agree to it and (5 %) declined to respond.

The economic situation

(61 %) of the Palestinian public assessed their economic situation at present as “bad”, (32 %) as “fair” (middle) and only (7 %) as “good”.

Survey overview

Dr. Nabil Kukali, said that the data for this survey has been collected by using CATI, an effective method for data collection in quantitative researches conducted by phone. By this method, questions are addressed to respondents from a previously designed questionnaire. The survey sample is randomly taken in accordance with a long experienced methodology applied by PCPO covering (516) respondents, (311) are from the West Bank and (205) from Gaza Strip.

Dr. Kukali has further indicated that the margin of error was (±4.38 %) at a significance level of (95.0%). The sample allotment with respect to the residential areas was as follows: (60.3 %) in the West Bank, incl. Eastern Jerusalem and (39.7 %) in Gaza Strip. The average age of the respondents was (32.4) years.

The overwhelming majority of the Palestinians views the decision of the UAE to normalize relations with Israel as a betrayal or abandonment of the Palestinian cause, one that serves only the interests of Israel. A similar majority thinks that Saudi Arabia and Egypt, by endorsing that normalization, have in effect abandoned the Palestinian leadership. But most Palestinians also place the blame on themselves because they are divided and have normalized relations with Israel long before others

9-12 September 2020

This poll has been conducted in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Ramallah

These are the results of the latest poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip between 9-12 September 2020. The period before the conduct of the poll witnessed several developments including a US announcement about an agreement between the UAE and Israel to normalize relations between the two countries. This normalization agreement stipulated an Israeli suspension or delay of the planned annexation of parts of the West Bank. The period also witnessed a rise in the daily number of coronavirus infections and continued stalemate in Palestinian-Israeli relations that followed a PA decision to sever all security and civil links with Israel which led during the past months to a significant financial loss to the PA. This PA decision came in response to an Israeli announcement about the intention to annex about 30% of the West Bank. This press release addresses these issues and covers other matters such as Palestinian parliamentary and presidential elections, general conditions in the Palestinian territories, the peace process and the future possible directions for Palestinians in the absence of a viable peace process. Total size of the sample is 1270 adults interviewed face to face in 127 randomly selected locations. Margin of error is +/-3%.

For further details, contact PSR director, Dr. Khalil Shikaki, or Walid Ladadweh at tel. 02-296 4933 or email pcpsr@pcpsr.org.

Main Findings:

Finding of the September 2020 poll show a great Palestinian public anger with the UAE decision to normalize relations with Israel viewing it as serving only the interests of Israel and as a betrayal or an abandonment of the Palestinian cause and at the same time as a big failure of Palestinian diplomacy. Additionally, the overwhelming majority estimates that the Palestinian leadership has lost its Arab allies as Saudi Arabia will soon follow the UAE in normalizing relations and that Egypt, by endorsing the deal, has in effect abandoned PA president Mahmoud Abbas. Nonetheless, most believe that the majority of the Arab public is opposed to the normalization deal. Findings show that the public blames the Palestinians

themselves for this development: the split between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and the fact that they had normalized relations with Israel before many others may have hastened the arrival of this day.

The public does not show an appreciation of the fact that the UAE-Israel deal requires the suspension of the annexation plan. The reason for this is the fact that three quarters think that the suspension is only temporary and will soon take place, the normalization deal notwithstanding. Moreover, based on this assessment, the public is opposed to the restoration of PA-Israel security coordination despite the fact that half of the public wishes to restore civil and fiscal relations between the two sides.

Findings also show a significant decline in support for the two-state solution compared to the situation three months ago. They also show that the consensus in rejecting the Trump plan, the deal of the century, first documented in PSR’s February 2020 poll, remains unchanged. Similarly, the overwhelming majority remains opposed to a resumption of contacts with the Trump administration. Despite the majority expectation that Trump will lose the upcoming US presidential elections, only one fifth expects positive policy change if the Democratic candidate Joe Biden wins.

Domestically, findings show continued satisfaction with the PA measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic despite significant decline in the level of satisfaction, especially with the prime minister’s performance. Moreover, a majority is opposed to the severing of coordination and cooperation with Israel in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus.

Demand for the resignation of president Abbas rises in this poll. Parallel to this, satisfaction with the performance of the president has declined. As a result, if elections were held today, Hamas’ Haniyyeh would win a majority of the public vote. This development might have been boosted by the current economic difficulties in the West Bank resulting from the severing of civil and fiscal coordination with Israel and the resulting inability of the PA to pay the public sector in full. Findings also show a drop in the perception of safety and security in the West Bank and an increase in the desire to emigrate. Despite these developments, the popularity of Fatah in the West Bank is not negatively affected; to the contrary, the findings show a little improvement in its popularity.

(1) UAE-Israel normalization agreement:

• A majority of 63% view the normalization agreement between the UAE and Israel as a major event that represents a significant regional shift while 32% view as minor development.
• Findings show a consensus (86%) that the agreement serves only the interests of Israel while 8% think it serves the interests of both the Palestinians and the Israelis and only 1% think it serves the interests of the Palestinians only.
• We asked the public to pick one word that represents its sentiments toward the normalization agreement: the majority (53%) picked “betrayal,” 17% picked “abandonment” 13% “insult,” 9% “indifference,” 6% “sadness,” while only 1% picked words like “satisfaction,” “pride,” and “joy.”
• Most Palestinians (57%) believe that the majority among the Arab public is opposed to the normalization agreement while 20% believe an Arab majority supports it.
• A large majority (70%) believes that other Arab countries, such as Bahrain, Oman, Sudan, and Morocco, will sign similar agreements with Israel while 24% believe they will not do that.
• An overwhelming majority (80%) believes that Saudi Arabia has given the green light to the UAE to sign the normalization agreement and a similar majority (82%) believes that Saudi Arabia too will sign a similar public agreement.
• Similarly, an overwhelming majority of the public (78%) believes that the Egyptian position welcoming the agreement represents an abandonment of the Palestinian leadership led by Abbas while 18% do not share this view.
• A majority of 55% believes that Mohammad Dahlan was one of the participants in the making of the UAE-Israel normalization agreement while 24% do not share this view.
• Nonetheless, a majority of 53% believes that the blame for the normalization deal falls on the shoulders of the Palestinians themselves due to their division and due to the fact that they have recognized Israel and normalized relations with it long before the others; 42% disagree with this view.
• Also, a majority of 62% views the UAE defection from the previous declared Arab consensus on Palestine as a great failure for Palestinian diplomacy; 31% do not share this view.

(2) Annexation and the severing of relations with Israel in post UAE-Israel normalization:

• Three quarters of the public (75%) believe that the normalization agreement forces Israel to merely postpone annexation while 19% think it forces it to put an end to it.
• Now, after the normalization agreement, a majority of 62% is opposed to the restoration of security coordination with Israel while 32% are in favor of restoring it.
• But half of the public (50%) supports, and 45% oppose, the restoration of civil and fiscal coordination with Israel.
• If Israel conditioned resumption of civil and fiscal coordination with a resumption of security coordination, a majority of 59% will oppose, and 35% will support, the resumption of relations.
• In response to an actual Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories, the public is divided on how to respond. When asked to choose one of five possible responses, 28% favored resumption of armed struggle, 20% selected stopping the implementation of the Oslo agreement, another 20% favored return to negotiations with Israel and the US on the basis of a Palestinian peace plan, 19% preferred waging nonviolent resistance, and 6% selected the abandonment of the two-state solution in favor of a one-state solution.
• The public indicates great worries about the future in case of continued severing of relations with Israel.
• For example, 74% say they are worried that Israel will stop transfer of clearance revenues, which would mean that the PA would not be able to pay the public sector. 75% say they are worried that patients would not be able to travel from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank or Israel for medical treatment. 77% are worried that they would soon witness shortages or complete cut-off in supplies of water and electricity from Israel.
• 59% are worried that armed clashes would erupt with Israel. Another 59% are worried that the PA would collapse or fail to deliver services. 70% are worried that security chaos and anarchy would return to Palestinian life. Finally, 60% say they are worried that they would not be able to travel abroad via Jordan.
• It is interesting to note that despite the great worry, a majority of the public (63%) does not believe that the PA has in fact ended security coordination with Israel and only 30% believe it indeed did.
• A majority of 61% does not expect Israel to resume its military rule and that of its civil administration now after Abbas’ decision to sever relations with Israel and his invitation to Israel to assume full responsibility for the occupied territories. One third (32%) expects Israel to do so.
• A large majority of 75% says it does not prefer the return of Israeli military rule or civil administration while only 21% say they do prefer that.

(3) The Peace process and the US “Deal of the Century”:

• Support for the concept of the two-state solution declines to 39% and opposition stands at 58%. No description or details were provided for the concept.
• Three months ago, support for the concept stood at 45%.
• A majority of 62% believes that the two-state solution is no longer practical or feasible due to the expansion of Israeli settlements while 31% believe that the solution remains practical. Moreover, 77% believe that the chances for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel in the next five years are slim or nonexistence while 20% believe the chances to be medium or high.
• The most preferred way out of the current status quo is “reaching a peace agreement with Israel” according to 27% of the public while 36% prefer waging “an armed struggle against the Israeli occupation.” 14% prefer “waging a non-violent resistance” and 14% prefer to keep the status quo. Three months ago, 28% said that they prefer reaching a peace agreement with Israel and 38% said they prefer waging an armed struggle.
• When asked about the most effective means of ending the Israeli occupation, 41% chose armed struggle, 24% negotiations, and 26% popular resistance. Three months ago, 45% chose armed struggle and 24% chose negotiations.
• We asked the public about the Trump plan, known as the “deal of the century:” 92% say they oppose it and 5% say they support it. Three months ago, 88% expressed opposition to the plan.
• If the Palestinians accept the Deal of the Century, what are the chances that such acceptance would lead to the end of the Israeli occupation and to the building of a Palestinian state? 55% think the chances are zero; 26% think the chances are less than 50%; and only 16% think that the chances are 50% or more.
• A majority of 71% is opposed and 19% are not opposed to a resumption of dialogue between the Palestinian leadership and the Trump Administration.
• Official contacts between the PA and the US government were suspended by the PA after the US, in December 2017, recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Three months ago, 69% said they were opposed to the resumption of dialogue with the US.
• A majority of 61% expects president Trump to lose the next US presidential election and 30% expect him to win it. Nonetheless, only 21% expect a positive change if Biden wins while 34% believe US policy will not change and 35% expect it to become worse.

(4) PA performance during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• A two-third majority (68%) is satisfied with the measure taken by the PA to prevent travel between the various governorates in order to contain the Coronavirus pandemic.
• Similarly, the findings show that the majority is satisfied with the performance of the various entities and individuals involved in the management of the Coronavirus crisis. For example, 64% express satisfaction with the performance of the security services deployed in their areas and 57% are satisfied with the performance of the governor in their area. On the other hand, satisfaction with the performance of the prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh stands at 48% today compared to 62% three months ago.
• The majority indicates that it has been harmed economically as a result of the pandemic: 70% say their income or salary has been reduced; 61% say their income or salary has been stopped; and 52% say they stopped working or became unemployed.
• A majority of 55% say that are dissatisfied with the PA decision during the past several months to stop cooperation and coordination with Israel in the health sector with the aim of combating the coronavirus, 42% are satisfied with that decision.

(5) Legislative and presidential election

• 62% of the public want president Abbas to resign while 31% want him to remain in office. Three months ago, 58% said they want Abbas to resign. Demand for Abbas’ resignation stands at 54% in the West Bank and 74% in the Gaza Strip.
• Level of satisfaction with the performance of president Abbas stands at 31% and dissatisfaction at 63%. Level of satisfaction with Abbas stands at 36% in the West Bank and 24% in the Gaza Strip. Three months ago, satisfaction with Abbas stood at 36% (44% in the West Bank and 24% in the Gaza Strip).
• If new presidential elections were held today and only two were nominated, Mahmoud Abbas and Ismail Haniyeh, the former would receive 39% and the latter 52% of the vote (compared to 42% for Abbas and 49% for Haniyeh threw months ago). In the Gaza Strip, Abbas receives 32% of the vote (compared to 32% three months ago) and Haniyeh receives 62% (compared to 61% three months ago). In the West Bank, Abbas receives 46% (compared to 51% three months ago) and Haniyeh 42% (compared to 38% three months ago). If the competition was between Marwan Barghouti and Ismail Haniyeh, Barghouti receives 55% and Haniyeh 39%. If the competition is between prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and Haniyyeh, the former receives 41% and the latter 51%.
• We asked in an open-ended question about potential Abbas successors: If president Abbas does not nominate himself in a new election, 22% prefer to see Marwan Barghouti replacing him, while 18% prefer Ismail Haniyeh. Mohammad Dahlan is preferred by 7% (1% in the West Bank and 15% in the Gaza Strip), Mohammad Shtayyeh is preferred by 5%, Mustafa Barghouti by 4%, Khalid Mishal by 3%, and Salam Fayyad by 2%.
• We also asked the public about its willingness to participate in the upcoming elections and if so, to whom it will vote. If new legislative elections were held today with the participation of all factions, 61% say they would participate in such elections. Of those who would participate, 34% say they will vote for Hamas and 38% say they will vote for Fatah, 8% will vote for all other third parties combined, and 20% are undecided. Three months ago, vote for Hamas stood at 34% and Fatah at 36%. Vote for Hamas in the Gaza Strip stands today at 45% (compared to 47% three months ago) and for Fatah at 30% (compared to 28% three months ago). In the West Bank, vote for Hamas stands at 23% (compared to 23% three months ago) and Fatah at 46% (compared to 42% three months ago).

(6) Domestic conditions:

• Positive evaluation of conditions in the Gaza Strip stands at 5% and positive evaluation of conditions in the West Bank stands at 16%.
• Nonetheless, perception of safety and security in the Gaza Strip stands at 71% and in the West Bank at 57%.
• 24% of the public say they want to emigrate due to political, security, and economic conditions. The percentage in the Gaza Strip stands at 25% and in the West Bank at 24%. Three months ago, only 18% of West Bankers expressed a desire to emigrate.
• Perception of corruption in PA institutions stands at 80%. Three months ago, 81% expressed a similar view.
• The public is divided over its assessment of the PA: a majority of 62% views it as a burden on the Palestinian people while 33% view it as an asset for the Palestinian people. Three months ago, only 52% viewed the PA as a burden.
• A year and a half since the formation of the Shtayyeh government, findings indicate persistent pessimism. Responding to a question about expectations regarding the ability of the Shtayyeh government to make progress in reconciliation and reunification, 60% expect failure; only 31% expect success. In a similar question about the ability of the new government to organize legislative or legislative and presidential elections in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, a majority of 58% expects failure and 33% expect success.
• In another question about the ability of the new government to improve economic conditions, a majority of 61% expects failure and 32% expects success.
• An overwhelming majority of the public (80%) is opposed to the arrest by the PA security services of activists who were planning to demonstrate or were demonstrating against corruption in the PA while 17% support these arrests.
• 56% (66% in the West Bank and 41% in the Gaza Strip) believes that it will not receive a fair trial if it finds itself in a Palestinian court while 36% (23% in the West Bank and 55% in the Gaza Strip) believe that will receive a fair trial. Six month ago, 42% said it believes it will receive a fair trial.
• A majority of 64% (75% in the West Bank and 49% in the Gaza Strip) thinks that the Palestinian judiciary rules according to whims and interests; 31% disagree and believe that it rules according to the law. Six month ago, 41% said the judiciary and courts rule according to the law.
• We asked the public about its viewership habits in the last three months. Findings indicate that Al Jazeera TV viewership remains the highest, standing at 19%, followed by Palestine TV (15%), Al Aqsa TV (13%), Maan TV at 12%, Palestine Today TV at 11%, Al Arabiya and al Mayadeen at 4% each, and finally al Manar at 2%.

(7) Reconciliation:

• 37% are optimistic and 59% are pessimistic about the success of reconciliation. three months ago, optimism stood at 29%.
• Similarly, 41% believe that unity will not be resumed and that two separate entities will evolve in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip while 45% believe unity will eventually return but only after a long time and only 11% believe unity will return soon.

(8) Muslims in China:

• 80% of the Palestinians believe that if press reports about the treatment of the Uighur Muslims in China are true, Palestinians should condemn the Chines policy towards its Muslim community and 15% disagree with that.
• An overwhelming majority of 79% indicates that it does not believe the statement of the Chinese government that the camps built by China to allegedly detain the Uighur Muslims are in fact teaching centers aiming at eradicating extremism; 10% believe the Chinese statement.
• Similarly, an overwhelming majority of 83% believes that world Muslims should express solidarity with the Uighur Muslims against the Chinese government while 10% disagree with that.
• An overwhelming majority of 80% approves of the Turkish president Erdogan’s decision to transform the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque; 16% disapprove.

(9) Most vital Palestinian goals and the main problems confronting Palestinians today:

• 42% believe that the first most vital Palestinian goal should be to end Israeli occupation in the areas occupied in 1967 and build a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital. By contrast, 29% believe the first most vital goal should be to obtain the right of return of refugees to their 1948 towns and villages, 15% believe that the first and most vital goal should be to build a pious or moral individual and a religious society, one that applies all Islamic teachings; 13% believe it should be to establish a democratic political system that respects freedoms and rights of Palestinians.
• The most serious problem confronting Palestinian society today is poverty and unemployment in the eyes of 27%, the spread of corruption in public institutions in the eyes of 25%, the continuation of occupation and settlement activities in the eyes of 24%, the continued siege of the Gaza Strip and the closure of its crossings in the eyes of 13%, and the lack of national unity in the eyes of 10%.

The latest poll on the Palestinian public opinion prepared by Dr. Nabil Kukali revealed the following:

• (55.5%) believe that the decision of the Palestinian Authority to end the security and civil coordination with Israel was a right decision, (49.1 %) are among the residents of the West Bank, and (65 %) residents of Gaza Strip.

• (52.3%) believe that the cessation of the security and civil coordination with Israel will negatively affect the economic and living conditions of the Palestinian people.

• (48.7%) believe that ending the security and civil coordination will negatively affect the restriction of the spread of corona epidemic (Covid-19). .

The latest poll prepared by Dr. Nabil Kukali and conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (www.pcpo.org) during the period from June 14-22, 2020 covered a random sample of (1250) Palestinian respondents representing the various demographic specimens of Palestinians (18 years and above) living in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. It revealed that (55.5 %) of the Palestinian public believe that the decision of the Palestinian Authority to end the security and civil coordination with Israel was a right decision.

Dr. Nabil Kukali, President and founder of the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, said that the suspension of the security and civil coordination came as response to the Israeli position, that is supported by President Tramp to annex vast regions of the West Bank that makes up around (30 %) of the area of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley region, the region north of the Dead Sea and the settlements to its sovereignty, the matter that the Palestinians consider as ultimate undermining of the opportunity to establish their own independent state.

Dr. Kukali further added that the poll results unveil that there is a fear of deterioration of the economic and living conditions in the Palestinian Territories as well as the mutual cooperation in restricting the spread of the corona-virus (COVID-19).

Dr. Kukali said the details of the key results of this poll are as follows:

Cessation of the Coordination as a Right Decision

(55.5 %) of the Palestinian public believe that the decision of the Palestinian Authority to end the security and civil coordination with Israel was a right decision; (49.1 %) of them are residents of the West Bank, and (65 %) residents of Gaza Strip, whilst (44.5 %) of the Palestinians, (50.9 %) of them in the West Bank and (35 %) in Gaza Strip, believe that the decision was wrong.

The results in detail further reveal that the governorates with the positive attitude towards the decision are in the West Bank in the following order: Al-Bireh & Ramallah (81.8 %), Jerusalem (62.8 %), Jericho (55.6 %), Hebron (52.9 %), Salfit (52.2 %), Nablus (43.3 %), Toubas (37.5 %), Toulkarem (37.3 %), Jenin (34 %), Qalqilia (27.8 %) and Bethlehem with (15.9 %) the least positive attitude.

On the other hand, the governorates with the negative attitude towards the decision are in the West Bank in the following order: Bethlehem (84.1 %), followed by Qalqilia (72.2 %), Jenin (66 %), Toulkarem (62.7 %), Toubas (62.5 %), Salfit (47.8 %), Nablus (56.6 %), Hebron (47.1 %), Jericho (44.4 %), Jerusalem (37.2 %) and Ramallah (18.8 %).

In Gaza Strip, the governorates with the positive attitude towards the PA decision are in the following order: Rafah (78.1 %), followed by Deir al-Balah (75.9 %), Gaza City (63.9 %), Khan Younis (61.1 %) and North Gaza (54.9 %).

Cessation of the Coordination and the Economic Situation

Responding to the question:” Do you think that the cessation of the security and civil coordination with Israel will improve the economic and living conditions of the Palestinian people or rather worsen them ?, (18.7 %) said “will improve them”, (52.3 %) “will worsen them”, (15.8 %) “will have no effect” and (13.2 %) said “I don’t know”.

Cessation of the Coordination and the Restriction of Corona-virus (COVID-19)

With regard to the question:” In view of the coordination between the Palestinian Authority and Israel on restricting COVID-19, do you think that ending the security and civil coordination between them would negatively affect this COVID-19 coordination, or not ?, (48.7 %) said “will negatively affect”, (21.7 %) said “will remain unchanged” and (29.6 %) have no opinion.

Will the Cessation of the Coordination impede the Annexation of Jordan Valley and the Settlements ? In respect of the question:” Some people in the Palestinian Territories believe that ending the security and civil coordination between the PA and Israel will impede the Israeli annexation of vast areas of the West Bank (Jordan Valley and the settlements) by Israel, while others believe that it will boost the annexation of these areas by Israel. Which of these two opinions is closer to yours ?, “(28.1 %) said “it will impede Israel”, (35.1 %) “it will encourage Israel to annex these areas”, (26.5 %) “the decision of the PA will have no effect on the annexation” and (10.3 %) said “I don’t know”.

Seriousness of the Palestinian Authority

Responding to the question:”Up to which extent do you believe that the PA will adhere to its decision of terminating the security and civil coordination with Israel ?”, (12.5 %) said “to a great extent”, (37 %) “to a fair extent”, (35.3 %) “to a little extent” and (15.2 %) have no opinion.

The Need for Civil Coordination

With respect of the question addressed to the West Bank respondents:”If you were in need for a coordination or for getting a job, or going to a hospital in Israel, would you go to the bureaus of the Israeli civil administration or to the Palestinian liaison bureaus “, (22 %) said “I would go to the bureaus of the Israeli civil administration”, whilst (56.6 %) said they “would go to the Palestinian liaison bureaus”, and (21.4 %) said “ I don’t know”.

Methodology of the Survey Study in the Palestinian Territories

Dr. Nabil Kukali, said that all interviews of this survey were conducted inside the respondents' homes. The choices were randomly taken in accordance with a long experienced methodology applied by PCPO from a total of (180) sites, (135) are from the West Bank and (45) from Gaza Strip.

Dr. Kukali has further indicated that the margin of error was (±2.77 %) at a significance level of (95.0%). He added that the rate of the female respondents in this survey was (49.6%) against (50.4%) male respondents. The sample allotment with respect to the residential areas was as follows: (63.0 %) in the West Bank, incl. Eastern Jerusalem and (37.0 %) in Gaza Strip. The average age of the respondents was (31.5) years.

For following up the most recent polls of the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, please revert to our website: www.pcpo.org

Near East Consulting (NEC) most recent survey about Al Jazeera leaks pertaining to the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations shows that 99% of the Palestinians heard about the leaks that released by Al Jazeera channel. The leaks released, by Qatar-based Al-Jazeera of what it, calls “The Palestine Papers” have raised more questions about the peace process, and the possibility of future negotiations with Israel.

The survey, conducted immediately after Al-Jazeera broke the news about the positions of the Palestinian negotiators on the issues of refugees, security, and Jerusalem, was carried on a random sample of 897 Palestinians over the age of 18 from both sexes, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including East Jerusalem. The margin of error is +/-3.4% and the confidence level is 95%.

The results show that 68% of the Palestinians do not believe these leaks (71% in the West Bank versus 64% in the Gaza Strip), and 88% think the leaks serve the Israeli interests. Only 5% said the PA is the party benefiting from publishing these leaks while 7% said that they serve no one.

The results also show that the majority of Hamas supporters believe that Al Jazeera leaks are correct whereas the majority of Fateh supporters think that they are fabricated. Still both Fateh and Hamas supporters agree that these leaks serve only the Israeli interests.

In addition, the results show that 64% of the surveyed population considered Al Jazeera as non-neutral in dealing with the leaks, compared with 36% who said that Al Jazeera was neutral.

In response to the question about where Al Jazeera’s sympathies lie, the results demonstrated that 62% of the respondents think that Al Jazeera is sympathetic with the Hamas government, 5% said it is sympathetic with Ramallah government, and 33% see that Al Jazeera as being objective.

Moreover, 59% of the Palestinians consider the leaks as merely negotiations tactics, while 19% said that the leaks showed real concessions on Jerusalem and refugees, and 22% stated other reasons.

In their attitude about whether the leaks of Al-Jazeera will lead to internal conflict, 83% agree that these leaks will lead to internal conflict, compared with 17% said it will have no impact at all.

In order to see the position of Al Jazeera with respect to the Palestinian public, NEC asked a question about the most trusted TV channel, 23% of the respondents gave their trust to Al Jazeera, compared to 45% in NEC’s October 2010 survey. The results also show that 26% trust Palestine TV, 20% trust Al-Arabiyah, 3% trust Al Aqsa TV, 2% said Al Manar TV station, 2% for BBC, 1% for CNN, and 5% trust other Arab stations, and 15% trust no station.

I. Methodology

During the period 12-15 November, 2007, and immediately after the large Fateh rally in the Gaza Strip which ended in the death of seven Palestinians, Near East Consulting (NEC) conducted a phone survey of over 1200 randomly selected Palestinians in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem of which 1057 were successfully completed.

It is worth noting that the margin of error is +/- 3% with a 95% confidence level.

II. Main findings

• The internal security problem is becoming the main concern of the Palestinian people, more so than the economy;
• Feeling of insecurity dropped by 10% over the past six weeks. Whereas 53% of the respondents said that t they felt insecure in Sep 2007, the feeling of insecurity reached 63% in November;
• The stabilization in the poverty figures in the oPt area consequence of the improvement of the economic conditions in the West Bank as opposed to the Gaza Strip which are probably related to the emphasis exerted by the international community to support the West Bank government as opposed to the Gaza Strip's government;
• Palestine TV is gaining more support at the expense of Al-Jazeera;
• Al-Quds newspaper is trusted slightly more than Al-Jazeera;
• 62% of the respondents now say that the legitimate government is the caretaker government as opposed to 55% six weeks ago;
• Trust in Abu-Mazen reached the highest since the election of Hamas. Whereas 22% of the respondents gave their trust to Hanieh, 78% gave their trust to Abu-Mazen;
• Although the majority of the Palestinians do not think that any leader can ever take the place of President Arafat, the most likely choice is Marwan Barghouthi closely followed by Abu Mazen;
• The vast majority of the Palestinians believe that if Arafat was alive, the problems that exist between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip would not have happened. They also believe that the political situation is much more difficult than it is during the time of Arafat.
• Support for Fateh is on the rise and it reached the highest level since Hamas won the elections in January 2006;
• As noted below, the majority of the Palestinians (79%) believe that the security situation in the oPt has worsened since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip. Moreover, 94% think that the economy deteriorated and 87% believe that the general situation has worsened.
• Support for the Annapolis meeting is slightly less than it was in late September 2007. Today, 71% of the Palestinians support Palestinian participation as opposed to 76% in September.
• Still, only 43% believe that it will lead to some progress in the peace process. The only optimists are the supporters of Fateh where 65% of them believe that Annapolis will lead to some progress on the peace front.
• The majority (57%) believe that the main beneficiary will be Israel. Only 22% believe that it will be the Palestinians. Even among Fateh supporters, more of them believe that Israel will be the main winner there.
• 51% of the respondents say that the issue of Jerusalem is the most important issue in any final status negotiations (51%) followed by the refugee issue (24%).
• The majority of the Palestinians support a two-state solution and the right of return of the refugees to their place of origin. As for Jerusalem, 62% of the respondents want Jerusalem to be shared or split between Palestine and Israel. Only 38% want both parts of Jerusalem as a capital for the Palestinians state only.
• 72% of the respondents support a peace agreement with Israel. Even 38% of Hamas supporters support a peace agreement with Israel. The highest support for a peace settlement with Israel is among supporters of Hamas where 87% of them favor this view.

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Introduction

During the period 4-8 February, Near East Consulting (NEC) conducted a health survey of over 1,100 randomly selected Palestinians in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem; 781 of the interviews were successfully completed. The survey covered a number of issues relating to family health and well, including mental health, the prevalence of different diseases, health insurance and medical coverage, obstacles to health care service delivery, quality of health services and evaluations of healthcare professionals. Interviews were conducted by telephone. The margin of error for the survey is +/- 3.5%, with a 95% confidence level.

I. Summary of findings

1. Prevalence of depression; and 2. chronic illness and disability

31% of respondents, and slightly more men than women, characterized themselves as ‘very depressed.’ This figure is nearly one-third lower than that recoded during the worst month of 2006. Extreme depression was more prevalent among refugees then the remainder of the population.

47% of all Palestinian households include at least one person suffering from some type of chronic illness or disability. ‘Diabetes’ and ‘Heart Related Problems’ were cited as the most common ailments by slightly more than one quarter of all respondents, respectively.

Both the incidence of depression and illness were strongly related to poverty. One third more hardship cases than non-poor households suffered some kind of depression.

Families falling within the hardship category were more than 2.5 times as likely to suffer disability than non-poor families, and more than 1.5 times as likely to suffer chronic illness.

3. Insurance coverage and main care providers

64% of households said all their members enjoy some type of health insurance coverage. Coverage tended to be family-wide: if one member was insured, the remainder were also likely to be so; only 17% of families indicated that they had partial coverage. 20% had no coverage at all.

Though villagers were somewhat less likely than city dwellers to be insured, there were no significant differences across income groups; indeed, hardship families were least likely to be without any coverage. In addition, refugees were at least 1.3 times more likely to enjoy full coverage than the rest of the population.

The Palestinian Authority is by far the largest health insurance provider in the Occupied Territories, covering 69% of households. Between them, UNRWA1 and private insurance companies account for an additional 14%.

In the main however, the PA covers medical expenses for only 30% of families; 33% covered their own expenses. Poor households were nearly 1.5 times more likely to rely primarily on the PA than were families above the poverty line. Hardship cases relied comparatively less on the PA (24%) and more on UNRWA (16%).

The PA Ministry of Health was the main care provider for nearly half of all families; private institutions accounted for 28%, and UNRWA for 21%. Households above the poverty line were nearly twice as reliant on private care (40%) as were poor households (24%).

4. Use of health care services

Household use of different types of health services generally ranged in incidence from 40% in the case of specialized care for non-acute problems, to 13% in the case of general urgent health care service s. However, only 4% of families had received mental health care in the past year, notwithstanding high levels of depression.

Variance across sub-groups was primarily determined by poverty level. Hardship cases were up to 2 times more likely than non-poor households to have used most types of services. Both refugee camp residents and hardship cases were twice as likely to have benefited from mental health services.

Only 35% of Gaza households had received specialized cared, compared to 43% of West Bankers. One reason may be that the only Palestinian center for tertiary care– the Muqassed Hospital in East Jerusalem, is located in the West Bank.

More than half of all households indicated that care was received within two hours; 11% had sought some type of care but not received any. In addition, 15% had needed care but deferred seeking it. This figure included 19% of West Bank respondents but only 9% of Gazans, a difference is possibly attributable to internal movement restrictions prevailing in the West Bank.

Rural households and poor families - particularly hardship cases - were about 1.5 times more likely than comparable sub groups to have been denied care, or to have waited longer hours. The greater difficulties encountered by such families were also notable because they were less likely than better-off respondents to have deferred treatment.

5. Obstacles to health care delivery

The most prevalent obstacles to care delivery were financial and capacity constraints; 25% of respondents said they could not afford care, 23% that there were too many other people waiting, and 17% that there was not enough staff attending to them.

As expected, financial constraints impacted households below the poverty line much more than other categories of respondents. However, for refugees and refugee camp residents in particular, capacity constraints were a relatively bigger obstacle than cost. Rural households were over two times more likely than urban families to cite either distance or lack of transportation as a significant obstacle, and were also much more likely to be affected by checkpoints and other Israeli movement restrictions

6. Evaluation of service quality

Capacity constraints were generally felt more in terms of the time afforded patients, rather than the time spent waiting; nearly one third of families suggested that they would have liked more time with their health care professional; whereas less than one fifth were outright dissatisfied with waiting time.

Refugee camp families expressed the highest incidence of dissatisfaction with the duration of their consultation (49%), along with hardship families ( 42%), who were nearly twice as likely to have wanted more time as were non-poor households.

Though 90% of respondents were to some degree satisfied with the availability of drugs, poor households were at least twice as likely find drugs hard to come by than were nonpoor households. Gazans were also having more difficulty (14%) than West Bankers (8%), possibly owing to their greater poverty or tighter external closures.

Overall, a vast 96 % of respondents expressed some degree of satisfaction with the working hours or their PHC and its distance from their homes. Hospitals were deemed somewhat more difficult to reach, but in general, distance seems to be a problem primarily when compounded by lack of affordable transportation, and the existence of checkpoints.

92% majority households were satisfied to some degree with the attitude of the health staff who attended them, with 57% finding it friendly and supportive, and 35% cold but respectful. Responses did not vary significantly among different categories of respondents.

7. Evaluation of health professionals

For no category of health professionals evaluated for their qualifications and professionalism did more than 10% of respondents give a rating of ‘very bad’ or ‘bad.’

This, the lowest rating was given to general practitioners, who fared poorly compared to specialist doctors. In general, other health professional with which families have frequent contact, including pharmacists, nurses and para-professionals, were given high ratings.

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• The percentage of Palestinians who said that since the January PLC elections they feel the same in terms of security that had been steadily increasing in the first two months after the elections, has plunged in the past two months from 57% in March to 42% in April to 37% now. Meanwhile, the percentage of Palestinians feeling less secure since the PLC elections reached a four-month high and stands at 34%. Whereas 64% of Fateh supporters and 33% of those who do not trust any political faction feel less secure since the PLC elections, this is the case for 15% of Hamas supporters. Also, a higher percentage of Gazans (41%) than Westbankers (31%) feel less secure since the January PLC elections.
• 43% consider the "chaos in internal security" to be the main reason behind their feeling of insecurity, 39% blame the "deterioration in the economic conditions of their household" for feeling insecure, while respectively 7% blame either the "Israeli occupation" (7%) or "lawlessness" for their feeling of insecurity.
• Excluding the factor of Israeli occupation, 34% of Palestinians believe that "keeping weapons only with the security forces" would improve their feeling of security, while 33% believe that "an improvement of the role and empowerment of the security forces" would have that effect. Furthermore, 20% say that "dismantling the factional military wings" would improve their feeling of security, and 20% said that "an improvement in the economic situation" would do that.
• A majority of 62% of Palestinians said that they or their families or their property is threatened. This feeling is more pronounced among Fateh supporters (69%) and those who do not trust any faction (74%) than among Hamas supporters (48%).
• A small majority of 53% of Palestinians believe that the PA cabinet should control the Palestinian security forces, while 47% believe that the President should control these forces. While 81% of Fateh supporters said that the President should control the Palestinian security forces, 50% of those who do not trust any faction and 18% of Hamas supporters said so.
• A large majority of 81% of the Palestinian public supports the integration of all factional military wings in the security forces. While the support for such integration is stronger among Hamas supporters (82%) and those who do not trust any faction (87%), it is also strong among Fateh supporters (74%). Also, the support for the integration of all factional military wings into the security forces is stronger in the West Bank (83%) than in the Gaza Strip (77%).
• 62% believe that the establishment of the new security back-up force will improve the security situation, while 38% believe that it will worsen the security situation. The belief that the establishment of the new security force will improve the security situation is more widely shared among Hamas supporters (82%) and those who do not trust any faction (50%) than among Fateh supporters (41%).
• 63% of the Palestinian public is of the opinion that the Ministry of Interior decided to establish a new security force to help in security, while 37% think this Ministry established the new security force to compete with the existing security forces. While 84% of Hamas supporters believe that the Ministry of Interior established the new security force to help in security, 61% of Fateh supporters believe that this Ministry established this new security force to compete with the already existing security forces.
• After explaining to the interviewees that President Abu Mazen decreed that no additional security force should be established, but that Prime Minister Ismael Hanieh said that the new back-up force should stay, 54% believe that Abu Mazen should back down, while 46% believe that Ismael Hanieh should back down. 20% of Fateh supporters believe that Abu Mazen should back down compared to 81% of Hamas supporters and 53% of those who do not trust any faction who share this belief.
• In general, 23% of the Palestinian public blames Hamas for the current security crisis in the Gaza Strip, while 30% blame Fateh, and 47% blame both factions equally. According to factional trust 56% of Fateh supporters blame Hamas for the security crisis in the Gaza Strip, while equally 56% of Hamas supporters blame Fateh for this crisis.
• 44% of Palestinians believe that the security crisis in the Gaza Strip will spread to the West Bank. This belief is more widely held among Fateh supporters (53%) and those who do not trust any faction (43%) than among Hamas supporters (37%). Also, this belief lives stronger in the West Bank (48%) than in the Gaza Strip (37%).
• The view that a civil war is likely to break out is held by 45% of the Palestinian public. Fateh supporters (62%) much more than Hamas supporters (34%) and those who do not trust any faction (45) believe in the likelihood of a civil war. Also, again, a higher percentage of Palestinians in the West Bank (48%) than in the Gaza Strip (43%) believes that a civil war is likely.
• In general, 80% support the Prisoner agreement. Support for this agreement is higher among Fateh supporters (87%) and those who do not trust any faction (86%) than among Hamas supporters (68%), and also higher in the West Bank (85%) than in the Gaza Strip (72%).
• 63% of Palestinians believe that it is more important to seize weapons to improve internal security than to keep weapons to resist Israel. This view is more widely held among Fateh supporters (68%) and those who do not trust any faction (70%) than among Hamas supporters (56%). In addition, a higher percentage of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip (70%) than in the West Bank (59%) find it more important to seize weapons to improve internal security than to keep them to resist Israel.
• In general, 41% of Palestinians say that Hamas should maintain its position on the elimination of Israel. A higher percentage of Hamas supporters (62%) than Fateh supporters (23%) and those who do not trust any faction (33%) feel that Hamas should maintain it position on the elimination of Israel. This is also the case for a higher percentage of Westbankers (44%) than Gazans (35%). In comparison with NEC's April survey results on this issue, support for Hamas maintaining its position towards Israel has increased by 6%.
• 22% of the Palestinian public believes that Palestinians have a partner for peace in Israel. Only last month, a mere 13% were of that opinion. The highest percentage of Palestinians believing that there is a peace partner in Israel can be found among Fateh supporters (29%).
• 62% believe that there is a Palestinian partner for peace, while the remaining 38% believe that this is not the case.

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