Surveying Palestinian Opinions December 2006

Palestinians prefer a coalition government over new elections

Pressrelease/summary: English * Arabic (pdf) * Norwegian

A majority of Palestinians don't think new elections are the solution to the political crisis between Fatah and the Hamas government. More than half (54%) of those asked in an opinion poll conducted by Fafo say that they would prefer a new national unity coalition government over new elections. The suggestion of new elections received the support of one in five (21%) of those asked. At the same time, confidence that the sitting Hamas government can solve the crisis alone is very low (7%).

The poll data provides little grounds to believe elections would solve the present crisis. The same balance of support was found in the poll for Fatah and Hamas as before the last elections in January 2006: 54% for Fatah today, 46% in December 2005, while Hamas received 32% support today, compared with 21% at the same time last year. In addition, almost a third of respondents indicated that they would not vote in a new election (28%).

Fafo conducted the opinion poll in the Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Gaza between 25 November and 5 December 2006, with 1,960 respondents above 18 years of age. The research is intended to provide information on people's living conditions, as well as their views on domestic political issues, elections, war and peace. Financial support for the opinion poll has been provided by the Foreign Ministry of Norway.

Researchers

• Gro Hasselknippe
• Jon Pedersen
• Akram Atallah
• Hani El Dada
• Mark Taylor

Results

1. Household members' information

2. Household economy

3. Attitudes regarding current political situation

4. Satisfaction with local services

5. Palestinian elections trends