Opinion Poll in the West Bank and Gaza on: Arab Spring, UN Initiative, Palestinian Political System, Internal Issues/Priorities Elections

Highlights of an opinion poll conducted in the West Bank and Gaza, by the Arab World for Research and Development:

• The majority of Palestinians (85 percent) support holding a parliamentary election next May 2012 as agreed to in the revised Cairo Agreement.
• Palestinians continue to place the highest importance on achieving national reconciliation with 96 percent stating that it is important or somewhat important.
• 49 percent believe that the Palestinian society is moving in the right direction, whereas 46 percent have the opposite view.
• 70 percent support the UN bid for statehood.
• 45 percent select economic development and job creation as their top internal priority.
• The PLO continues to be the most trusted institution at 73 percent, followed by the PA (68 percent) and the PLC (65 percent).
• The majority of Palestinians have negative views of the governments in both Gaza and the West Bank when it comes to the observance of democracy, transparency and human rights.
• Respondents give Marwan Barghouthi their highest positive evaluation (86 percent), followed by President Abbas (72 percent) and Ahmad Sa’adat (69 percent).
• In a presidential election: Abbas would receive 44 percent of the vote; whereas Haniyeh would receive 18 percent.
• In a PLC election: Fateh would receive 46 percent support; whereas Hamas would receive17 percent.

Click here to read the full report