Strong Palestinian support for peace

The Jerusalem Media Center in the West Bank conducted an opinion poll in the West Bank published by Al-Quds Arabic in Jerusalem which brought into view that Palestinian support for the peace process has increased.

68.7 percent supported it in July. Now that number has risen to 74.2 percent.

Support for the largest Palestinian group, Fateh, has increased from 34.8% in July to 40.9%. Meanwhile the Palestinian governmet headed by Yasser Arafat raised its popular base from 37.6% to 46.4% during the same period.

The survey showed that political developments in the last period resulted in those changes in the public opinion, particularly Israel's failure to implement phases of the peace accords among which is the redeployment of its forces.

The poll also revealed that the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, increased its support from 11.3 % in July to 17.3%.

On the economic line, 19.2% are convinced that the peace process has positively affected the national economy, while 38.3% said that it affected their economy negatively.

Regarding corruption, 40.8% of respondents agreed that Palestine was responsible for this case, while 47.8 % announced that it is not acting regularly to deal with the issue.