Palestinian poll: unity government positive; peace chance low
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 3/20/2007

"Near East Consulting" (NEC) revealed that 80% of Palestinians feel that chances of a civil war have receded since the February power sharing agreement between Hamas and Fateh, also known as the Mecca Accord.

The poll, which queried 802 respondents across the Occupied Territories, conducted by telephone, found that 69% are optimistic that the new unity government will succeed in lifting international donor sanctions on the PA, imposed after Hamas came to power in January 2006, according to NEC.

It added that 52% majority of respondents give credit to Hamas for moderating their political stance since this time.

"This has not prevented PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) from enjoying a slight rise in favour compared to Hamas Prime Minister Ismael Hanieh, with 54% of respondents now evincing more trust in the former," NEC said in a press release.

It added that over 70% of respondents remain skeptical that recent developments herald a long-term resolution of internal Hamas-Fateh differences.

NEC added that 49% respondents expect the new government to survive more than a year, a significant number of respondents - approximately one third - expect it to last less than 6 months.

NEC said that fears of economic hardship - which rose 10 points to 29% - and feelings of insecurity for family - which increased slightly to 28% - preoccupied a combined two-thirds of those interviewed.

"As a large majority of respondents feel that restoring security (59%) and enforcing the law (18%) should be a focus of the new government, similar numbers (48% and 12% respectively) believe that this is also all that it will be capable of achieving. Only 4% see peace with Israel as being in either the realm of priority or possibility, though overall support for peace remains, high at 68%," it said.

Similarly, only 12% and 15% of those polled feel that economic revival should be a priority, or is a realistic objective, notwithstanding optimism about the lifting of international sanctions on the PA.

Previous Stories:
  Livni: Israel wants to be Jewish country   (3/13/2007)
  Israeli justice system is a part of occupation: Machsomwatch   (3/13/2007)
  Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians in West Bank   (3/13/2007)
  Abbas: Factions in government do not have to abided by its position   (2/26/2007)
  Fatah-affiliated radio station attacked   (2/4/2007)
  Abbas: ministry of interior force illegal   (1/6/2007)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search