Palestinian Public Opinion Polls:
Attitudes on Terrorism

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What is your attitude regarding the re-firing of Al-Qassam rockets from Gaza at Israel? (PCPO, October 2010)

Do suicide bombings do more harm or benefit to Palestinian national interests? (Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, February 22-March 5, 2008)

Should suicide bombings inside Israeli territory be halted or continue? (Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, February 22-March 5, 2008)

Do you consider acts such as the kidnapping of foreigners, the burning of internet cafe's, and the bombing of foreign schools as criminal acts deserving condemnation, or as nationlistic acts deserving support? (Truman Center/PSR, June 12-20, 2007)

Is the conflict in Gaza between factions or individuals? (Near East Consulting, May 22 and 24 2007)

Do you support or oppose the firing of rockets into Israel by Palestinian factions? (Near East Consulting, May 22 and 24 2007)

Does firing rockets into Israel provide any real benefit to the Palestinians? (Near East Consulting, May 22 and 24 2007)

Palestinian factions blaimed for violence in the Gaza Strip: (Near East Consulting, May 22 and 24 2007)

Do you support or oppose releasing Alan Johnston without conditions? (Near East Consulting, May 22 and 24 2007)

How do you feel towards suicide bombing operations against Israeli civilians? Do you support them, or oppose them? (Jerusalem Media & Communications Center, February 2006)    

Do you support the resumption of the military operations against Israeli targets as a suitable response within the current political conditions, or do you oppose them and find them harmful to Palestinians national interests? (Jerusalem Media & Communications Center, February 2006)

Hamas has executed violent operations against Israeli targets inside Israel and in the West Bank and Gaza strip against civilians and against military troops, now and after Hamas victory in the PLC elections, do you believe that Hamas should continue with such operations or that it should halt them?(Jerusalem Media & Communications Center, February 2006)

The PA president, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, called upon the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” to abandon violence and to hold a dialogue with Fateh saying that the atmosphere is appropriate now for conducting such a political dialogue, which is considered to be indispensable.  Do you agree with that, or not? (PCPO, June 6-11/2005)

The PA president, Mr. Abu Mazin, said that “the era of explosions (suicide attacks) is over and that this deadly style didn’t achieve neither the support of the Palestinian Authority nor that of the Palestinian people.”  Do you agree with this statement, or not?  (PCPO, June 6-11/2005)

And who do you believe planned the 9/11 attacks against the United States? (PORI, September 2003)

Terrorism is NEVER justified under any circumstances. (PORI, September 2003)

Hamas is a terrorist group. (PORI, September 2003)

[Hamas are freedom fighters.] (PORI, September 2003)

[Last year the Tulkarm Shahids Memorial Soccer Championship For Children was named After Abd Al-Al Baset Odeh, who killed 30 Israelis in a suicide bombing. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?] (PORI, September 2003)

If the Ministry of Education wanted to name a youth soccer tournament after Baruch Goldstein who killed unarmed Palestinians in an attack, would that be a good ting or bad thing? (PORI, September 2003)

Do you consider Palestinian bombings of Israeli buses and restaurants to be acts of terrorism? (PORI, September 2003)

Do you consider attacks by Israelis against Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders to be acts of terrorism? (PORI, September 2003)

Some say that the ideal way to achieve Palestinian national goals is through negotiations, others say through armed struggle, what is the opinion closer to your viewpoint? (Source: JMCC Poll, December 2002)

In general, do you support or oppose Arab participation in the "International Coalition Against Terrorism" led by the U.S.? (Source: IMRA, October 2001)

Do you think that attacks such as the ones in the U.S. are consistent with Arab interests? (Source: IMRA, October 2001)

The following questions were asked immediately after several terrorist attacks in late February and early March 1996

What was your feeling when you heard about the Hamas suicidal bombings [in late February/early March 1996]. Did you. (Source: JMCC Poll, March 1996).

Do you believe that the Palestinian Authority (PA) should prevent such attacks? (Source: JMCC Poll, March 1996)

Do you think that the PA should prevent such attacks by force or by persuation? (Source: JMCC Poll, March 1996)

(This question was asked only to those who said that the PA should prevent such attacks)

Do you think that the PA is capable of preventing such attacks? (Source: JMCC Poll, March 1996)

Have you been exposed personally to provocations from Israelis as a result of the attack? (Source: JMCC Poll, March 1996)

Are you afraid from revenge by Israelis? (Source: JMCC Poll, March 1996)

Are you afraid now from using Israeli buses? (Source: JMCC Poll, March 1996)

Is your fear a result of the treatment of Israeli passengers or from explosions? (Source: JMCC Poll, March 1996)

(This question was asked only to those who said that they are afraid now from using Israeli buses)

Do you feel that the suicidal attacks contribute to the achievement of Palestinian National goals ? (Source: JMCC Poll, March 1996)

To what extent do you support or oppose the idea of forming a national salvation authority through which Hamas can join in the ruling? (Source: JMCC, March 1999)

Which position serves Hamas best, Taking power , participating in the authority with other or not participating at all in the authority? (Source: JMCC, March 1999)  

Fateh movement is considered the main party in the Authority while Hamas is considered the main opposition pole; to what extent do you believe in the possibility of any cooperation between them? (Source: JMCC Poll, April 2001)

Do you believe that the wave of agitations and confrontations of last month was to benefit to the Palestinian cause? (Source: JMCC Poll, November 1996)

During and in the aftermath of the incidents last month, how do you evaluate the performance of the PNA in benefiting from them? (Source: JMCC Poll, November 1996)

Some believe that the intervention of the Palestinian security forces in last month's confrontations was correct and the others believe that it was not. What is your opinion? (Source: JMCC Poll, November 1996)

Do you think armed resistance against Israel is still legitimate under the current political situation? (Source: JMCC Poll, Palestinian Attitudes, June 1995)

Do you support the continuation of military operations against Israeli targets as an adequate response to the current political conditions, or do you oppose it and see it as harmful to Palestinian national interests? (Source: JMCC Poll)

What about the intensification of Palestinian demonstration and protests against Israel? Do you support or oppose this intensification of Palestinian demonstrations and protests against Israel? (Source: JMCC Poll, April 1997)

These are numerous ideas for solving the problems stemming from the recent violations of some aspects of the agreement (Abu Ghniem, Har Homa, closure of institutions, etc...) Some believe that the answer is to intensify the negotiations, other say the negotiations should be stopped, and others say the answer lies in intensifying popular protests. What is your opinion? (Source: JMCC Poll, April 1997)  

In your opinion what should the PA (Palestinian Authority) do regarding popular protests. Do you think the PA should encourage these protests, should not interfere in these protests, or should the PA prevent these protests? (Source: JMCC Poll, April 1997)  

Do you support continued suicide operations against Israeli targets (including civilians) under the current political situation? (Source: JMCC Poll, Palestinian Attitudes)

Do you support continued suicide operations against Israeli targets (including civilians) under the current political situation? (Source: JMCC Poll, Palestinian Attitudes)

* Similiar question asked again in same poll

Do you support continued suicide operations against Israeli targets (including civilians) under the current political situation? (Source: JMCC Poll, Palestinian Attitudes)

* Similiar question asked in same poll

If you answered yes, why?* (Source: JMCC Poll, Palestinian Attitudes, June 1995)

The recent period witnessed issuing and executing death penalty sentences in the national authority areas; what is your position regarding the death penalty in the PA areas?  

Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose, the PA preventing violence against Israeli soldiers? (Source: JMCC, March 2000)

Concerning armed attacks against Israeli civilian settlers in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, I…. (Source: PSR)

Concerning armed attacks against Israeli soldiers in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, I…. (Source: PSR, August 2002)

Concerning armed attacks against Israeli civilians inside Israel, I…. (Source: PSR)

Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose, the PA preventing violence against Jewish settlers? (Source: JMCC, March 2000)  

Internal Palestinian efforts are underway to create a consensus around means of fighting Israeli occupation. These efforts call for cessation of armed attacks against Israeli civilians inside Israel. Do you support or oppose these efforts? (Source: PSR, August 2002)
 

Do you strongly, or somewhat, support or strongly, or somewhat, oppose stopping all kind of operations inside Israel ? (Source: JMCC Poll)  

Some say that the ideal way to achieve Palestinian national goals is through negotiations, others say through armed struggle, what is the opinion closer to your viewpoint? (Source: JMCC Poll, December 2001)  

Are you with the resumption of the military operations only inside Israel, only inside the occupied territories or inside Israel and the occupied territories? (Source: JMCC Poll, September 2002)  

And what about Hizbullah methods and the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, do you think the Palestinians should emulate these Lebanese methods? (Source: PSR, July 2000)