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Palestinian Public Opinion Polls: Views on Government Infrastructure and Political System

(2009 - Present)

Note: We are presenting raw data. When available, we provide some or all of the crosstabs (i.e., breakdowns by various categories such as party ID). To analyze the data, we encourage users to read the entire study and the methodology used. Results and reliability can be affected by such things as sample size, question wording, and question order. Responses may also be influenced by context and timing; for example, if the survey is conducted during a war. The question wording is not exact in polls in Arabic translated to English).


Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Mr. Mahmoud Abbas is managing his post as PA President? (PSR, December 17, 2011, June 22-25, 2022)

  2010 2011 2022
Satisfied
43%
52%
23%
Dissatisfied
45%
44%
73%

If new presidential elections were held today between Abbas and Haniyeh, who would you vote for? (PSR, June 22-25, 2022)

 
2009
2010
2022
Mahmoud Abbas
54%
57%
33%
Ismail Haniyeh
38%
36%
55%

If new presidential elections were held today between Barghouti and Haniyeh, who would you vote for? (PSR, June 22-25, 2022)

 
2009
2010
2022
Marwan Barghouti
67%
65%
61%
Ismail Haniyeh
28%
30%
34%

If new legislative elections are held today with the participation of all factions, who would you vote for? (PSR, June 22-25, 2022)

 
2009
2010
2022
Fatah
43%
45%
35%
Hamas
27%
26%
36%
All other factions and lists
14%
12%
7%
Undecided
17%
17%
20%

Do you support having legislative and Presidential elections soon/near future? (Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, November-December 2014, PSR, June 22-25, 2022)

 

2014

2022

Yes, elections should be held soon

64%

71%

No, elections should not be held soon

36%

25%

If elections are to be conducted in the Palestinian Territories at the present time, do you think they will be fair? (Al-Najah, March 2018)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza Strip
Yes
33.1%
35.1%
29.7%
No
53.8%
57.8%
46.9%
Don't know/No answer
13.1%
7.1%
23.4%

How do you assess the performance of the National Unity Government? (Al-Najah, March 2018)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza Strip
Excellent
7.8%
9.5%
4.8%
Good
56.4%
60.8%
48.7%
Poor 30% 23.1% 41.7%
Don't know/No answer
5.9%
6.5%
4.8%

Do you expect municipality and local council elections to be conducted in the near future? (IMRA, October 2016)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza Strip
Yes
52.8%
57.8%
44.2%
No
40.5%
36.9%
46.8%
Don't know/No answer
6.7%
5.3%
9%

Do you believe that there is corruption in the institutions of the Palestinian government in...? (AWRAD, May 2016)

 
 
Total
West Bank
Gaza
West Bank Yes
88.9%
95.5%
78%
No
7.7%
2.7%
16%
Don't know/No answer
3.4%
1.9%
6%
 
 
Total
West Bank
Gaza
Gaza Strip Yes
82.3%
82.5%
82%
No
10.8%
8.3%
14.9%
Don't know/No answer
6.9%
9.2%
3.1%

Which government would you prefer to govern in your region? (AWRAD, November 2015)

 

Total

West Bank

Gaza

Fatah-led PA

30.6%

26.0%

38.2%

Hamas-led PA

24.1%

23.9%

24.4%

Neither

40.6%

43.3%

36.2%

No answer

4.7%

6.8%

1.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you believe that the recent reconciliation government reshuffle will make the government more able to deliver services to the public? (PCPSR, September 2015)

Yes, it will make it more able to deliver services to the public
42%
No, it will not make it more able to deliver services to the public
50%
Don't know
8%

What is the likelihood that Palestinian elections will be held in the coming 6 months? (PCPO, March 2015)

They will certainly be held
6.5%
They are likely to be held
35.1%
They are unlikely to be held
27.2%
They will certainly not be held
16.7%
Don't know
14.5%

Do you think that there is corruption in PA institutions under the control of President Abu Mazin? (PSR, April 3, 2012)

Yes

72.9%

No

17.7%

Don’t know/ no answer

9.4%

Do you think that there is corruption in PA institutions under the control of the dismissed government in the Gaza Strip? (PSR, April 3, 2012)

Yes

61.6%

No

21.2%

Don’t know/ no answer

17.2%

Do you rate the performance of the Haniyeh government and the Fayyad government as positive? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

 

September 2011

December 2011

Yes - Haniyeh gov. (in Gaza)

34%

41%

Yes - Fayyad gov. (in West Bank)

53%

44%

After the meeting between president Mahmud Abbas and Khalid Mish’al, do you believe Fateh and Hamas will succeed in implementing the reconciliation agreement and reunify the West Bank and the Gaza Strip? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

Yes - they will succeed

50%

No - they will NOT succeed

46%

When, if ever, do you expect to see the formation of a reconciliation government or a government of experts? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

within days or weeks

21%

only after a long time

46%

I never expect one to be formed

27%

Do you expect elections for president and parliament will be held in May 2012 or a little after that? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

Yes - I expect elections to be held then or around then

43%

No - I do not think elections will be held around May 2012

47%

Do you approve or oppose the exclusion of Salam Fayyad from leading the government of reconciliation or experts? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

agree to his exclusion, as Hamas wishes

44%

oppose his exclusion

47%

If a reconciliation or expert government is formed soon, do you expect the US government and/or Israel to punish the PA by suspending financial support? (PSR, December 17, 2011)

I expect the US government to punish the PA by suspending financial support

72%

I think Israel, too, would likely suspend transfer of custom money to the PA

80%

I expect the EU to suspend financial support in such a case

52%

Do you think that the surrounding Arab and international circumstances necessitate concluding a national reconciliation agreement between Fateh and Hamas? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes

77.4%

No

18.7%

No opinion/Don’t know

3.9%

Do you think that it is possible to reach a national reconciliation agreement between Fateh and Hamas in the near future? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Yes

70.6%

No

22.3%

No opinion/Don’t know

7.1%

In case a national reconciliation agreement is signed, what do you think the consequences will be? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

Speeding the peace process

40.3%

Entangling and stopping the peace process

24.5%

It will not have any effect

27.6%

No opinion/Don’t know

7.6%

Do you support conducting presidential elections despite the Palestinian division? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

I support

33.1%

I reject

62.5%

No opinion/Don’t know

4.3%

If elections are conducted in the Palestinian Territories at the present time, do you expect that they will be fair and unbiased? (Al-Najah poll, October 17, 2011)

 

West Bank

Gaza Strip

Total

Yes

54.6%

37.2%

48.2%

No

36.6%

45.6%

39.9%

No opinion/Don’t know

8.8%

17.2%

11.9%

At this time, what should be the top internal priority of the government? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Forming a unity government

43.2%

Improving the performance of the Palestinian economy and creating jobs

32.3%

Conducting municipal, Palestinian Legislative Council and presidential elections

15.8%

Enhancing the institutions of the Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

7.4%

Others

0.8%

Don’t know

8.8%

Do you agree/disagree with a recent statement by Palestinian officials (e.g., PM Fayyad) that the performance of Palestinian institutions improved significantly during the last two years? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Agree

32.6%

To some extent

32.9%

Disagree

27.5%

Don’t know

7.0%

In general, how do you rate the overall performance of President Mahmoud Abbas? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Good

55.2%

Average

29.2%

Poor

14.2%

Don’t know

1.4%

In general, how do you rate the overall performance of Prime Minister Fayyad? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Good

40.9%

Average

36.4%

Poor

19.6%

Don’t know

3.1%

In general, how do you rate the overall performance of Ismael Haniyah? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Good

20.1%

Average

37.6%

Poor

35.4%

Don’t know

6.9%

Do you believe that there is a need for a new political party between Hamas and Fateh? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Yes

36.4%

To some extent

19.8%

No

39.8%

Don’t know

3.9%

In your opinion, when should local elections be held? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Immediately

13.3%

Within six months

18.1%

As soon as Fatah and Hamas have reconciled

58.6%

Elections should remain on hold

5.1%

Don’t know

4.9%

In your opinion, when should national (Presidential and Palestinian Legislative Council) elections be held? (AWRAD, October 13, 2011)

Immediately

12.8%

Within six months

18.4%

As soon as Fatah and Hamas have reconciled

59.6%

Elections should remain on hold

4.4%

Don’t know

4.8%

In case all efforts fail to reach a settlement aiming at the revival of peace, which of the following is most likely to take place on the Palestinian side? (PCPO, October 2010)

Unilateral proclamation of a Palestinian state and escalation of the violent resistance
31.3%
Dissolution of the Palestinian Authority and putting the world before the responsibilities for the resulting jurisdiction vacuumand the steering of the resistance by the Palestinian factions
34.3%
Keep the status quo, i.e. the Palestinian Authority, beside developing new strategies to conduct Palestinian affairs
29.7%
Don't know
4.7%

Some people have confidence in Hamas political leadership, others in Fatah political leadership, whilst others have no confidence in either. Which of the following statements is closer to your opinion? (PCPO, October 2010)

I have confidence in Hamas leadership
24.3%
I have confidence in Fatah leadership
50.9%
I have no confidence in either leaderships
21.8%
Don't know
3.5%

Six years after the departure of the leader Yasser Arafat, do you feel that you miss him or not? (PCPO, October 2010)

I strongly miss him
60.3%
I somewhat miss him
26.4%
I somehow don't miss him
5.4%
I don't miss him at all
6.3%
Don't know
1.6%

Of the main problems confronting Palestinians, which should be the top priorities of the Palestinian Authority? (PCPSR, October 2010)

Poverty and unemployment
28%
Absence of national unity due to the split
26%
Occupation and settlement activities
16%
The siege and the closure of Gaza border crossings
15%
Corruption in public institutions
11%

Which of the following scenarios do you believe is most likely to occur? (PCPSR)

 
March 2010
October 2010
Unity between the West Bank and Gaza Strip will not be restored and two separate entities will develop
31%
30%
Unity will be reestablished soon
15%
14%
Unity will eventually be restored but after a long time
47%
51%

Who do you believe is responsible for the continued split between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip? (PCPSR)

 
December 2009
March 2010
October 2010
Hamas and Fatah
61%
64%
66%
Hamas
17%
14%
15%
Fatah
12%
12%
11%

Which government is the legitimate Palestinian government? (PCPSR, October 2010)

The government of Haniyeh
26%
The government of Fayyad
30%
Both governments are illegitimate
30%
Both governments are legitimate
9%

Do you think that it is possible to reach a national reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas in the near future? (An-Najah, September 2010)

Yes
47.5%
No
47.8%
No opinion/Don't know
4.8%

In case a national reconciliation agreement is signed, what do you think the consequences will be? (An-Najah, September 2010)

Speeding the peace process
38.6%
Entangling and stopping the peace process
15.9%
It will not have any effect
39.2%
No opinion/Don't know
6.4%

Do you think that Gaza will continue to be separate from the West Bank forever? (An-Najah, September 2010)

Yes
31.8%
No
65.4%
No opinion/Don't know
2.8%

If presidential elections were held today, to whom from among the following would you give your vote? (An-Najah, September 2010)

An independent candidate
5.7%
A candidate from the left
3.2%
A candidate from Hamas
10.4%
A candidate from Fatah
32.3%
A national independent candidate
5.0%
An Islamic independent candidate
3.5%
I will not participate in the elections
20.8%
I have not decided yet
19.2%

If new PLC elections are conducted, whom do you vote for? (An-Najah, September 2010)

An independent ticket
6.0%
A ticket from the left
3.2%
A ticket from Hamas
10.7%
A ticket from Fatah
33.2%
A national independent ticket
4.6%
An Islamic independent ticket
3.6%
I will not participate in the elections
20.9%
I have not decided yet
17.9%

As you know, there is a government in the West Bank led by Salam Fayyad and another government in the Gaza Strip led by Ismail Haniyeh. In your opinion, which government is more capable of managing the internal Palestinian affairs? (An-Najah, September 2010)

The government of Salam Fayyad
61.3%
The government of Ismail Haniyeh
22.0%
No opinion/Don't know
16.7%

Do you support... (AWRAD, July 2010)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza
Holding an immediate PLC, presidential and local council elections?
28.2%
25.9%
32.1%
Waiting for the elections until after a reconciliation agreement?
64.1%
63.0%
65.8%
Other
1.0%
1.2%
0.7%
Don't know
6.7%
9.9%
1.3%

Would you support holding local, PLC and Presidential elections at the same time? (AWRAD, July 2010)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza
Yes
65.6%
57.3%
79.6%
No
26.6%
32.7%
16.4%
Don't know/No opinion
7.8%
10.0%
4.0%

If Presidential elections were held today, for whom would you vote? (AWRAD, July 2010)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza
Mahmoud Abbas
30.9%
28.5%
34.9%
Marwan Barghouti
14.3%
13.2%
16.0%
Ismail Haniyeh
10.4%
8.4%
13.8%
Salam Fayyad
8.4%
10.5%
4.9%
Mustafa Barghouti
7.6%
7.5%
7.8%
Khaled Meshaal
4.8%
3.7%
6.4%
Mahmoud Zahhar
0.5%
0.3%
0.9%
Not sure/Other
7.0%
9.7%
2.4%
I will not vote
16.2%
18.1%
12.9%

If the following lists ran for PLC elections and you had to choose one of them, which one would you vote for? (AWRAD, July 2010)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza
A list of Fateh led by Mahmoud Abbas
36.0%
34.4%
38.7%
A list of Hamas led by Ismail Haniyeh
14.3%
11.3%
19.3%
A list of independents led by Mustafa Barghouti
8.7%
6.9%
11.6%
A list of independents led by Salam Fayyad
6.3%
7.7%
4.0%
A list of leftist groups led by Ahmad Saadat
4.3%
3.9%
4.9%
None of the above
2.7%
3.3%
1.6%
Undecided
9.7%
12.7%
4.7%
I will not vote
18.1%
19.7%
15.3%

If the following lists ran for PLC elections and you had to choose one of them, which one would you vote for? (AWRAD, July 2010)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza
A list of Fateh and other PLO factions led by Mahmoud Abbas
39.4%
37.7%
42.2%
A list of independents led by Salam Fayyad and Mustafa Barghouti
15.2%
14.6%
16.2%
A list of Islamic groups including Hamas led by Ismail Haniyeh
14.8%
11.9%
19.6%
None of the above
3.8%
4.3%
3.1%
Undecided
10.3%
13.9%
4.2%
I will not vote
16.6%
17.8%
14.7%

If the following lists ran for PLC elections and you had to choose one of them, which one would you vote for? (AWRAD, July 2010)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza
Fateh
42.8%
40.8%
46.0%
Hamas
13.5%
10.7%
18.2%
PFLP
4.4%
4.1%
4.9%
Mubadara
4.1%
4.5%
3.3%
Islamic Jihad
1.4%
1.6%
1.1%
PPP
1.3%
1.6%
0.7%
DFLP
1.3%
1.6%
0.7%
Hizb Tahreer
0.6%
0.5%
0.7%
Feda
0.4%
0.5%
0.2%
Popular Struggle
0.3%
0.3%
0.2%
Undecided
11.8%
14.8%
6.7%
I will not vote
18.3%
18.9%
17.3%

Please let me know if you have a positive or negative view of the following political parties: (AWRAD, July 2010)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza
Fateh
 
 
 
Positive view
56.2%
58.0%
53.1%
Negative view
37.0%
33.1%
43.6%
I don't know
6.8%
8.9%
3.3%

 

Mubadara      
Positive view
54.7%
48.8%
64.4%
Negative view
28.8%
29.9%
26.9%
I don't know
16.6%
21.3%
8.7%

 

PFLP      
Positive view
42.3%
40.8%
44.7%
Negative view
41.0%
37.2%
47.3%
I don't know
16.8%
22.0%
8.0%

 

DFLP      
Positive view
34.5%
33.9%
35.6%
Negative view
45.1%
40.0%
53.6%
I don't know
20.4%
26.1%
10.9%

 

Hamas      
Positive view
33.5%
35.1%
30.9%
Negative view
58.4%
54.4%
65.1%
I don't know
8.1%
10.5%
4.0%

 

Please let me know if you have a positive or negative view of the following leaders: (AWRAD, July 2010)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza
Mustafa Barghouti
 
 
 
Positive view
64.7%
61.9%
69.3%
Negative view
23.5%
25.1%
20.9%
I don't know
11.8%
13.1%
9.8%

 

Salam Fayyad      
Positive view
62.6%
66.2%
56.4%
Negative view
29.1%
25.1%
35.8%
I don't know
8.3%
8.7%
7.8%

 

Mahmoud Abbas      
Positive view
54.2%
56.5%
50.2%
Negative view
39.8%
36.8%
44.7%
I don't know
6.1%
6.7%
5.1%

 

Ismail Haniyeh      
Positive view
39.3%
37.7%
42.0%
Negative view
51.8%
50.7%
53.6%
I don't know
8.9%
11.6%
4.4%

 

Mohammed Dahlan      
Positive view
34.1%
30.1%
40.7%
Negative view
51.6%
50.1%
54.0%
I don't know
14.3%
19.7%
5.3%

 

Mahmoud Zahhar      
Positive view
29.3%
28.9%
29.8%
Negative view
55.3%
49.5%
65.1%
I don't know
15.4%
21.6%
5.1%

If you were a decision maker, would you appoint Salam Fayyad or Ismail Haniyeh for the position of PM for the PA at the present time? (AWRAD, July 2010)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza
Salam Fayyad
46.9%
48.1%
44.8%
Ismail Haniyeh
21.8%
17.5%
29.0%
Other
14.6%
13.9%
15.8%
Don't know/No opinion
16.7%
20.5%
10.5%

Do you believe Palestinian society is generally heading in the right or wrong direction? (AWRAD, July 2010)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza
Right direction
26.6%
32.4%
16.9%
Wrong direction
67.2%
59.7%
79.8%
Don't know/No opinion
6.2%
7.9%
3.3%

In your opinion, does Fatah or Hamas have the best strategy to achieve the higher Palestinian interests? (WAFA-PLO News Agency, April 2010)

Fatah
57%
Hamas
10%
There is a better strategy than the strategy of Fatah or Hamas
33%

If new presidential elections were held today, who would you vote for? (WAFA-PLO News Agency, April 2010)

A Fatah candidate
48%
A Hamas candidate
5%
Other candidates
12%
Abstain from voting
35%

What do you view as the top Palestinian priority today? (An-Najah National University, PCPSR)

 
February 2009
December 2009
March 2010
National reconciliation /Unification of the West Bank and Gaza Strip
52.6%
61%
59%
Rebuilding Gaza
34.0%
16%
17%
Improving the economic situation
12.0%
-
-
Maintenance of calm and the opening of border crossings
-
22%
24%
Other
1.4%
-
-