‫املركز الفلسطيين للبحوث السياسية واملسحية‬Palestinian Center for POLICY and SURVEY RESEARCH

Survey Research Unit

The Palestinian Center for Policy and
Survey Research (PSR) is an independent
nonprofit institution and think tank of policy
analysis and academic research. PSR was
founded with the goal of advancing scholarshipand knowledge on immediate issues of concern
to Palestinians in three areas: domestic politics
and government, strategic analysis and foreign
policy, and public opinion polls and survey
research. The center engages in several
activities. It conducts academic and policy
analysis studies. It organizes socio-politicalsurveys and public opinion polls on current
Palestinian political and social attitudes. It
sponsors study groups and task forces on issuesof critical importance to the Palestinians.
Finally, it organizes conferences, public
lectures, and briefings on current public policy
issues. PSR is dedicated to promoting objective
and nonpartisan research and analysis and toencouraging a better understanding ofPalestinian domestic and international
environment in an atmosphere of free debate
and exchange of ideas.

This poll is part of PSR series of regularpolls.
This poll has been conducted incooperation with the Konrad-AdenauerStiftung in Ramallah

Polls
13 December 2022

Public Opinion Poll No (86)The World Cup in Qatar helps to restore Palestinian public trustin the Arab World after years of disappointment; and in light ofthe escalating armed clashes in the West Bank and the nearformation of a right wing and extreme government in Israel, thePalestinian public becomes more hardline while indicating agreater confidence in the efficacy of armed struggle
7-10 December 2022
These are the results of the latest poll conducted by the Palestinian Center
for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
between 7 and 10 December 2022. The period before the conduct of thepoll witnessed several developments including a decision by the Presidentof the Palestinian Authority (PA), Mahmoud Abbas, to form a high judicial
council under his chairmanship, a new reconciliation agreement reached inAlgeria by Palestinian factions, and media outlets reporting various casesof drowning of Palestinian emigrants in the Mediterranean Sea. On the
Israeli side, after winning the November parliamentary elections, the Likudand other right wing and extreme right-wing groups agreed to form agoverning coalition under Benjamin Netanyahu’s premiership. In
Palestinian-Israeli relations, a UN agency adopted a decision to seek theadvisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of theIsraeli occupation. Moreover, various armed groups resisting the Israeli
occupation in the northern parts of the West Bank, such as the “Lions’Den,” which received a wide press coverage, went public during this period.
In Qatar, the World Cup football games started and were widely followed by
the Palestinians due to a considerable expression of support for andsolidarity with Palestine by the fans attending the games.
This press release addresses these issues and covers other matters suchas the general conditions in the Palestinian territories, the peace process
and future possible directions for Palestinians in the absence of a viable
peace process. Total size of the sample is 1200 adults interviewed face toface in 120 randomly selected locations. Margin of error is +/-3%.

For further information, pleasecontact
Dr. Khalil Shikaki or Walid
Ladadwehat the Palestinian Center for
Policy and Survey Research
Ramallah, Palestine
Telephone 02 296 4933
Fax 02 296 4934
e-mail: pcpsr@pcpsr.org
http://www.pcpsr.org

For further details, contact PSR director, Dr. Khalil Shikaki, or Walid
Ladadweh at tel. 02-296 4933 or email pcpsr@pcpsr.org

Main Findings:

The findings of the last quarter of 2022 point to a limited change inthe domestic balance of power favoring Hamas and centering in theWest Bank. Moreover, the popularity of president Abbas drops
several percentage points, mostly in the West Bank. In otherdomestic issues, findings indicate that only one quarter of the public
thinks that the factional agreement in Algeria will lead to actual
reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas and the level of pessimism
about the prospects for reunification exceeds 70%. Findings also

show that the public views negatively Abbas’ decree forming a high council for the judiciary under
his chairmanship as only one in five Palestinians think it aims to strengthen the judiciary while avast majority of more than 70% think it aims at weakening the independence of the judiciary.
The findings of the current quarter also indicate a significant decline in the level of support for thetwo-state solution accompanied by a significant rise in the percentage of those who think thissolution is no longer feasible or possible due to settlement expansion. This change is notaccompanied by an increase in the percentage of those who support the one-state solution in which
Palestinians and Israeli Jews enjoy equal rights. To the contrary, support in the current quarter forthis one-state solution has also dropped. These findings point to the possibility that the change inattitudes toward the political settlement with Israel reflects a hardening of public attitudes
signifying less willingness to compromise. This hardening of attitudes can also be seen in thesignificant rise in support, in the West Bank, for a return to armed intifada. Furthermore, findings
show a significant decrease, in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in the percentage of those
who view positively Israeli-Palestinian confidence building measures. On top of that, more than
70% of the public support the idea of forming armed groups, such as the “Lions’ Den,” and only
one in ten says the PA has the right to arrest members of these groups or disarm them.
These findings come in a context of three major political and security-related developments,
during the current quarter, that might have shaped Palestinian public attitudes, particularly in theWest Bank:•••

Perhaps the single most important development has been the escalating military clashes
between Palestinian armed groups and the Israeli army in the northern part of the WestBank. The number of armed clashes and Israeli military incursions and the number ofPalestinian casualties have been unprecedented since the end of the second intifada. Thisparticular development sheds light on the fact that the most significant changes in ourfindings are centered in the West Bank.
The results of the Israeli elections and the start of negotiations to form a right-wingcoalition government, between the Likud, the religious parties, and the extreme right wingin Israeli politics, might have contributed to the increase in the percentage of those who
think the two-state solution is no longer practical or possible. This same development
might have also contributed to the rise in the belief that armed struggle, not negotiations, isthe most effective means of ending the Israeli occupation. Indeed, the findings indicate thata large Palestinian majority expects the worse from the upcoming Israeli government
including high expectation that it will change the status quo in holy places in al Haram al
Sharif in East Jerusalem, expel Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem,transfer Bedouin residents, such as Arab al Jahalin, from their villages and encampments inthe southeastern parts of Jerusalem to other locations, and annex settlements or the Jordan
Valley to Israel.
Finally, it is clear from the findings that the pro-Palestine scenes at the World Cup in Qatar
have contributed to a restoration of the confidence of the Palestinians in the justice of theircause and their right to resist the occupation by all legitimate means. The vast majority of
the Palestinians say they have now regained much, or some, of the lost confidence in the
Arab peoples in light of the solidarity with Palestine expressed by the fans during thefootball games. The findings show strong association between the restoration of trust andattitudes regarding the two-state solution and the return to an armed intifada.

2(1) “Lions’ Den” and other armed groups:• 72% support the formation of armed groups such as the “Lions’ Den”
• 79% stand against the surrender of the members of the armed groups or their arms to
the PA• 87% say the PA does not have the right to arrest members of the armed groups• 59% expect the armed groups to spread to other areas in the West Bank
A majority of 72% of the public says they are in favor of forming armed groups such as the“Lions’ Den,” which do not take orders from the PA and are not part of the PA security services;
22% are against that. Support for the formation of armed groups is higher in the Gaza Strip (84%)
than in the West Bank (65%), in refugee camps and cities (76% and 73% respectively) comparedto villages/towns (70%), among women (74%) compared to men (70%), among those whose age is
between 18 and 29 (75) compared to those whose age is 30 or above (72%), among refugees (78%)
compared to non refugees (68%), among students and professionals (77% and 75% respectively),compared to merchants and employees (60% and 69% respectively), among those who work in theprivate sector (71%) compared to those who work in the pubic sector (65%), among the religious(77%) compared to the somewhat religious (68%), and among supporters of Hamas and third
parties (87% and 78% respectively) compared to supporters of Fatah (66%).
Nonetheless, 59% are worried that the formation of such armed groups could lead to armed clashes
with the PA security services; 39% are not worried. Despite this, 79% say they are against thesurrender of the armed groups’ members and their arms to the PA in order to receive protection
against Israeli assassination; 17% say they are for it. Similarly, the vast majority (87%) says the
PA does not have the right to arrest member of these armed groups in order to prevent them fromcarrying out attacks against Israel or to provide them with protection; only 10% say they favor it.
A majority of 59% expects these armed groups to expand and spread to other areas in the West
Bank; 15% expect Israel to succeed in arresting or killing their members; and 14% expect the PA
to succeed in containing or coopting these groups.
(2) The formation of a new Israeli government of right wing and extreme right• 61% expect the policies of the upcoming Israeli government led by Netanyahu to be
more extreme than the previous one• 58% expect the new Israeli government to change the status quo at al Haram al
Sharif; 64% expect it to expel Palestinian families in al Sheikh Jarrah; 68% expect it
to transfer Arab al Jahalin community; and 69% expect it to annex it to annex Israeli
settlements or the Jordan Valley• 67% are less optimistic today about the prospects for an improvement in PalestinianIsraeli relations
A majority of 61% expects the policies of the upcoming Israeli government, that is currently being
formed under the leadership of Netanyahu from the right wing and the extreme right, to be more
extreme and aggressive while 30% expect them to be similar to the current policies; 4% expect
them to be less extreme. For example, a majority of 58% expects the upcoming Israeli government
under Netanyahu to change the status quo in al Haram al Sharif in East Jerusalem by allowing
Jews to pray at the site; 38% do not expect that. Similarly, a majority of 64% expects theupcoming Israeli government under Netanyahu to expel Palestinian families from al Sheikh Jarrahneighborhood in East Jerusalem; 33% do not expect that. Moreover, a majority of 68% expects the
new Israeli government under Netanyahu to transfer the Palestinian Bedouin community currently
living in the area between Jerusalem and Jericho, such as Arab al Jahalin, in order to build a big
3

settlement to the east of Abu Din and al Ezariyya; 28% do not expect that. Also, a majority of 69%
expects the upcoming Israeli government under Netanyahu to annex settlements or the Jordan
Valley to Israel; 27% do not expect that.
A majority of 67% is less optimistic about the prospects of an improvement in Palestinian-Israeli
relations, such as reaching new agreements on confidence building measures or reducing the
expansion of the settlements during next year; 12% say they are more optimistic today; and 20%
are neither optimistic nor pessimistic.
(3) Legislative and presidential elections:• 69% support holding general elections now, but 63% do not expect elections to takeplace anytime soon
• In a competition between president Abbas and Hamas’ Ismael Haniyyeh, the latterwins by 54% and the former receives 36% of the vote; but Marwan Barghouti, from
Fatah, defeats Haniyyeh 61% to 34%• Satisfaction with the performance of president Abbas stands at 23%; and 75%
demand his resignation• In parliamentary elections, Fatah and Hamas receive equal percentage of popular
vote, 34% each
A majority of 69% supports the holding of presidential and legislative elections in the Palestinian
territories in the near future while 29% say they do not support that. Demand for elections stands at
75% in the Gaza Strip and 65% in the West Bank. However, a majority of 63% believes nolegislative, or legislative and presidential, elections will take place soon.
If new presidential elections were held today and only two were nominated, Mahmoud Abbas andIsmail Haniyeh, only 46% would participate and from among those, Abbas would receive 36% andHaniyeh 54% of the votes (compared to 53% for Haniyeh and 38% for Abbas three months ago).
In the Gaza Strip, Abbas receives 36% of the votes and Haniyeh receives 60%. In the West Bank,
Abbas receives 36% and Haniyeh 46%. If the competition was between Marwan Barghouti andIsmail Haniyeh, participation would increase to 62% and from among those, Barghouti receives
61% and Haniyeh 34%. If the competition is between Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh andHaniyyeh, participation rate would decrease to 43% and from among those, the former receives
31% and the latter 60%.
If Abbas does not run for elections, the public prefers Marwan Barghouti to succeed him as thelargest percentage (39%) selected him in a closed-ended question, followed by Ismail Haniyyeh(17%), Mohammad Dahlan (5%), Yahya al Sinwar (4%), Mohammad Shtayyeh, Khalid Mish’al
and Hussein al Sheikh (3% each), and 22% said they do not know or have not decided.
Level of satisfaction with the performance of president Abbas stands at 23% and dissatisfaction at
73%. Level of satisfaction with Abbas stands at 23% in the West Bank and 23% in the Gaza Strip.
Satisfaction with the performance of Abbas three months ago stood at 26% and dissatisfaction at
74%. Moreover, a vast majority of 75% of the public wants president Abbas to resign while only
20% want him to remain in office. Three months ago, 74% said they want Abbas to resign.
Demand for Abbas’ resignation stands today at 73% in the West Bank and 79% in the Gaza Strip.
If new legislative elections were held today with the participation of all factions that participated in
the 2006 elections, 65% say they would participate. Of those who would participate, 34% say they
will vote for Hamas and 34% say they will vote for Fatah, 10% will vote for all third parties
combined, and 21% are undecided. Three months ago, vote for Hamas stood at 32% and Fatah at
34%. Vote for Hamas in the Gaza Strip stands today at 43% (compared to 44% three months ago)and for Fatah at 30% (compared to 29% three months ago). In the West Bank, vote for Hamas
4stands at 26% (compared to 21% three months ago) and Fatah at 38% (compared to 38% threemonths ago).
28% say Hamas is most deserving of representing and leading the Palestinian people while 25%
think Fatah under president Abbas is the most deserving of representing and leading thePalestinians; 40% think neither side deserves such a role. Three months ago, 27% selected Hamas,
26% Fatah under Abbas, and 42% said neither side deserves such a role.
(4) Domestic conditions, the “assassination” of Yasir Arafat, independence of the Judiciary,
and those responsible for the drowning of Palestinian emigrants:• 64% believe that a Palestinian actor played a role in the death of Yasser Arafat, either
alone (14%) or in cooperation with Israel (50%)• 72% think the decree by president Abbas to form a high judiciary committee under
his chairmanship aims at weakening the independence of the judiciary• 27% blame Hamas for the drowning of Gazan illegal emigrants; 24% blame Israel;and 18% blame the PA• 24% say they want to emigrate; 30% in the Gaza Strip and 20% in the West Bank
• 81% think there is corruption in PA institutions; 69% think there is corruption in
public institutions controlled by Hamas• 59% think the PA is a burden on the Palestinian people• 72% are pessimistic about the prospects for reconciliation• The vast majority does not expect the Shtayyeh’s government to succeed in holding
general elections, delivering reconciliation, or improving economic conditions
In light of the leaks in the media regarding the investigation into the death of Yasir Arafat, 50% of
the public believe a Palestinian party or actor had implemented the plot to get rid of Arafat but thatthe planning had been done by Israel; 24% think no Palestinian actor or party had been involved in
the death of Arafat; and 14% think a Palestinian party or actor had plotted and implemented thekilling of Arafat. The belief that a Palestinian actor implemented an Israel plot to get rid of Arafat
is higher in the West Bank (53%) compared to the Gaza Strip (45%), in villages and refugee camps(55% and 52% respectively) compared to cities (49%), among men (52%) compared to women(48%), among those whose age is 30 and above (52%) compared to those whose age is between 18
and 29 (42%), among holders of BA degree (51%) compared to the illiterates (33%), among
farmers and merchants (70% and 68% respectively) compared to laborers and students (44% and
47% respectively), and among supporters of Hamas and third parties (60% and 54% respectively)
compared to supporters of Fatah (39%).
A large majority of 72% thinks the decree issued by president Abbas to form a high judiciarycouncil under his chairmanship was meant to weaken the independence of the judiciary; 19% think
it was meant to strengthen it. The percentage of those who think the decree aims at weakening theindependence of the judiciary is higher in villages/towns and cities (75% and 72% respectively)
compared to refugee camps (68%), among men (75%) compared to women (68%), among holders
of BA degree (76%) compared to the illiterates (31%), among merchants, employees, andprofessionals (89%, 82%, and 80% respectively) compared to housewives and laborers (64%each), and among supporters of Hamas and third parties (86% and 88% respectively) compared tosupporters of Fatah (49%).
We asked the public about the party indirectly responsible for the drowning in the Mediterranean
Sea of Palestinian emigrants from the Gaza Strip while attempting to illegally reach Europe. The
largest percentage (27%) puts the responsibility on Hamas, 24% on Israel, 18% on the PA, another
18% blame the emigrants themselves, and 3% blame Egypt. The percentage of those putting theblame on Hamas is higher in the Gaza Strip (31%) than in the West Bank (25%), in refugee camps5(33%) compared to villages/towns and cities (24% and 27% respectively), among those who workin the private sector (28%) compared to those who work in the public sector (19%), among theunmarried (35%) compared to the married (26%), among those with the least income (33%)
compared to those with the highest income (23%), and among supporters of Fatah and third parties(51% and 29% respectively) compared to supporters of Hamas (3%).
24% of the public say they want to emigrate due to political, security, and economic conditions.
The percentage in the Gaza Strip stands at 30% and in the West Bank at 20%. Three months ago,
23% of West Bankers expressed a desire to emigrate and 29% of Gazans expressed the samedesire.
Positive evaluation of conditions in the Gaza Strip stands at 6% and positive evaluation of
conditions in the West Bank stands at 22%. Nonetheless, perception of safety and security in the
Gaza Strip stands at 77% and in the West Bank at 46%.
Perception of corruption in PA institutions stands at 81%. When asked about institutions controlled
by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, 69% indicated that there is corruption in these institutions. Threemonths ago, 86% said there is corruption in PA institutions and 73% said there is corruption in
public institutions controlled by Hamas.
A large minority of 46% of West Bankers thinks people in the West Bank can criticize the PA
without fear while 51% think they cannot. In the Gaza Strip, 48% think people in the Strip cancriticize Hamas’ authorities without fear and 51% think they cannot. In its assessment of the PA, amajority of the Palestinians (59%) views it as a burden on the Palestinian people while 36% view it
as an asset for the Palestinian people. Three months ago, 57% viewed the PA as a burden and 38%
viewed it as an asset.
Only 26% are optimistic and 72% are pessimistic about the success of reconciliation. Threemonths ago, optimism stood at 25%. When asked about the prospects for the implementation of theagreement reached in factional meetings sponsored by Algeria, only 26% expressed the belief thatthe agreement would lead to actual reconciliation while 67% expressed the belief that it will notlead to reconciliation.
After more than three years since the formation of the Shtayyeh government, findings indicate
persistent pessimism. Responding to a question about expectations regarding the ability of the
Shtayyeh government to make progress in reconciliation and reunification, 78% expect failure;
only 18% expect success. When asked about the ability of the government to organize legislativeor legislative and presidential elections in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, 20% of the public
expect success and 76% expect failure. In another question about the ability of the new
government to improve economic conditions, a majority of 79% expects failure and 17% expects
success.
We asked the public about its TV viewership habits in the last three months. Findings indicate that
al Jazeera TV has the highest viewership, standing at 31%, followed by Palestine TV (13%), alAqsa TV (11%), Palestine Today TV (9%), Maan TV (6%), al Arabiya (3%), and al Mayadeen(2%).

(5) Palestinian-Israeli Relations, the Peace process, and the decision to go to ICJ:• Support for the two-state solution drops from 37% to 32% and 69% think thissolution is no longer feasible due to settlement expansion• 26% favor a one-state solution with equal rights; 71% are opposed to that solution• A majority of 55% support the return to an armed intifada

6

•
•

A majority of 51% believe armed action is the most effective means of ending theIsraeli occupation
Half of the public believes that going to the International Court of Justice will notbenefit the Palestinian people

Support for the concept of the two-state solution stands at 32% and opposition stands at 66%. No
description or details were provided for the concept. Three months ago, support for the concept
stood at 37%. A majority of 69% believes that the two-state solution is no longer practical or
feasible due to the expansion of Israeli settlements while 28% believe that the solution remains
practical. Moreover, 72% believe that the chances for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside
the state of Israel in the next five years are slim or nonexistence while 25% believe the chances tobe medium or high. Three months ago, only 64% said the two-state solution was no longer feasibleor practical due to settlement expansion.
Reflecting on the latest UN speech of president Abbas in which he described the situation on the
ground in the West Bank as “apartheid” and that the Palestinian people will demand equal rights in
one state for two peoples, 26% say that they are in favor of such one state solution while 71%
expressed opposition. Three months ago, support for Abbas’ position on the one-state solution
stood at 30%.
When asked about support for specific policy choices to break the current deadlock, 59%
supported joining more international organizations; 51% supported resort to non-violent resistance;
55% supported return to armed confrontations and intifada; 48% supported dissolving the PA; and27% supported abandoning the two-state solution and embracing a one state solution for
Palestinians and Israelis. Three months ago, 48% supported a return to armed confrontations andintifada; 46% supported dissolving the PA; and 23% supported abandoning the two-state solution
in favor of a one-state solution. Support for the return to an armed intifada is higher in the Gaza
Strip (61%) than in the West Bank (51%), in refugee camps (58%) compared to villages/towns andcities (50% and 55% respectively), among men (58%) compared to women (52%), and amongsupporters of Hamas (83%) compared to supporters of third parties and Fatah (50% and 40%
respectively).
When asked about the most effective means of ending the Israeli occupation and building an
independent state, the public split into three groups: 51% chose armed struggle, 21% negotiations,and 23% popular resistance. Three months ago, 41% chose armed struggle and 30% chosenegotiations. The belief that armed struggle is the most effective means of ending the Israeli
occupation is higher in the Gaza Strip (53%) than in the West Bank (50%), in refugee camps andcities (53% each) compared to villages/towns (42%), among men (56%) compared to women(47%) among holders of BA degree (61%) compared to illiterates (48%), and among supporters ofHamas (76%) compared to supporters of third parties and Fatah (50% and 36% respectively).
We asked the public about its views regarding Palestinian-Israeli confidence building measuresthat would improve living conditions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, such as approval offamily unification permits or making available to the PA additional financial resources. A majorityof 57% said it looks positively, while 38% said it looks negatively, at such measures. Threemonths ago, 69% of the public said it viewed these measures positively.
When asked about PA negotiations with the upcoming Israeli prime minister, Netanyahu, 47% said
they opposed such negotiations while 25% said they support negotiations with him on a peaceagreement and confidence building measures while 11% said they support negotiations if restricted
to a peace agreement and 12% said they support negotiations with him if restricted to confidencebuilding measures. In other words, a total of 36% are in favor of negotiations with Netanyahu

7about a peace agreement and 37% are in favor of negotiations with him about confidence building
measures.
In light of the decision by a UN agency to go to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to ask forits consultative opinion on the legality of the Israeli occupation, half of the public (50%) say thedecision and any opinion by the ICJ will have no benefits for the Palestinian people; 28% say thebenefit will be symbolic but will have no impact on Israeli policies; 16% say the decision will havean impact on constraining Israeli policies on matters such as settlement construction. The belief
that going to the ICJ will not be beneficial is higher in the West Bank (56%) than in the Gaza Strip(40%), among men (54%) compared to women (46%), among holders of BA degree (49%)
compared to the illiterates (28%), among those who work in the private sector (54%) compared tothose who work in the public sector (44%), and among supporters of Hamas (52%) compared tosupporters of third parties and Fatah (42% and 40% respectively).
(6) World Cup in Qatar:• Two thirds say they have regained the lost trust in the Arab masses after seeing thesolidarity with Palestine during the World Cup• 68% think the international standing of Qatar has improved as a result of its effective
organization of the World Cup
Two thirds of the public say that they, now after having seen the scenes of solidarity and support
for Palestine in the World Cup in Qatar, have regained much of the trust in the Arab peoples after
many disappointments stemming from the Arab normalization with Israel; 21% say they haveregained some of that trust; 5% say their trust in the Arab peoples has remained small; and 4% saythey have no trust at all in the Arab World.
In light of the Qatari organization of the World Cup, 68% of the Palestinians say they think Qatar’s
international standing has improved a lot compared to where it was before; 17% say it has
improved somewhat; 8% say Qatar’s standing has not changed; and 1% say it has worsened.
We asked the public about its predictions for the winner in the World Cup. When the number ofremaining country teams was eight, 48% said it expected Morocco to win; when the number ofcountry teams went down to six, 54% expected Morocco to win. By contrast, 22% expect
Argentina to win; and 15% expect France to win.

(7) Most vital Palestinian goals and the main problems confronting Palestinians today:• 39% say the most vital goal of the Palestinians should be the ending of Israeli
occupation• 25% say the spread of corruption is the main problem confronting Palestinian society
today• 38% say the Israeli occupation is the most pressing problem confronting Palestinians
today
A plurality of 39% believe that the first most vital Palestinian goal should be to end Israeli
occupation in the areas occupied in 1967 and build a Palestinian state in the West Bank and theGaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital. By contrast, 33% believe the first most vital goal
should be to obtain the right of return of refugees to their 1948 towns and villages, 14% believethat the first and most vital goal should be to build a pious or moral individual and a religious
society, one that applies all Islamic teachings and 13% believes it should be to establish ademocratic political system that respects freedoms and rights of Palestinians.
8In a question about the main problem confronting Palestinian society today, the largest percentage,
25% (8% in the Gaz Strip and 36% in the West Bank), say it is corruption; 21% (26% in the Gaza
Strip and 17% in the West Bank) say it is unemployment and poverty; 20% say it is thecontinuation of the occupation and settlement construction; 17% (26% in the Gaza Strip and 11%
in the West Bank) say it is continued siege and blockade of the Gaza Strip; 10% say it is the split
between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip; and 4% say it is the weakness of the judiciary and theabsence of liberties, accountability and democracy.
When asked about the most pressing problem confronting the Palestinians today, the largest
percentage (38%) said it is the Israeli occupation, while 22% said it is corruption, 15% said it isunemployment, 15% said it is the split or division, and 6% said it is the internal violence.

9

Public Opinion Poll No (86)7-10 December 2022

Total

west bank

Gaza Strip00 ) From among the following satellite news stations, which one you watched mostduring the last two months?
3%2%5%1) al Arabia
31%
31%
33%
2) al Jazeera
9%
12%
6%
3) Palestine Today0%0%0%4) al Manar
13%
15%
9%
5) Palestine TV
11%
3%
23%
6) alaqsa
6%8%3%7) man(mix)2%2%1%
al myadeen
20%
22%
17%
10) Do not watch TV2%3%1%11) others0%0%1%12) Do not have a dish2%2%2%13) DK/NA
Q01) In general, how would you describe conditions of the Palestinians in thePalestinian areas in Gaza Strip these days?
1%0%1%1) Very good
5%4%6%2) Good
16%12%23%3) so so
34%
40%
26%
4) Bad42%40%45%5) Very bad
2%4%0%6) DK/NA
Q02) In general, how would you describe conditions of the Palestinians in thePalestinian areas in the West Bank these days?
5%3%8%1) Very good
17%
12%
24%
2) Good27%26%28%3) so so
28%
34%
17%
4) Bad23%24%21%5) Very bad
1%1%2%6) DK/NA
Q03) Generally, do you see yourself as:
46%
40%
55%
1) Religious
50%
56%
41%
2) somewhat religious
3%3%4%3) not religious
0%0%0%4) DK/NA
Q04) Do you think that there is corruption in PA institutions of the Palestinian
Authority?
81%
82%
80%
1) yes
12%
9%
16%
2) no
7%
10%
4%
3) DK-NA10

Totalwest bank

Gaza Strip

Q05) What about the institutions controlled by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, do you
think that there is corruption in these Hamas-controlled institutions?
69%
68%
71%
1) yes
15%
8%
26%
2) no
16%
24%
3%
3) DK-NA
Q06) In your view, can people in your area (under the PA in the West Bank/orunder Hamas in the Gaza Strip) today criticize the authority without fear?
47%
46%
48%
1) yes
51%
51%
51%
2) no
3%
4%
1%
3) DK-NA
Q07) Would you say that these days your security and safety, and that of yourfamily, is assured or not assured?
14%
6%
27%
1) Completely assured
44%
40%
50%
2) Assured
29%
36%
19%
3) Not assured
13%
19%
4%
4) Not assured at all0%0%0%5) DK/NA
Q08) Do current political, security, and economic conditions lead you to seek
emigration abroad?
9%
8%
11%
1) Certainly seek to emigrate
15%
12%
19%
2) Seek emigration
36%
37%
34%
3) Do not seek emigration
41%
44%
36%
4) Certainly do not seek emigration
0%0%0%5) DK/NA
Q09) Do you want the holding of general legislative and presidential elections soonin the Palestinian territories?
28%
21%
39%
1) Certainly yes
41%
44%
36%
2) YES
21%
22%
19%
3) NO
8%
9%
6%
4) Certainly no2%4%0%5) DK-NA
Q10) If new presidential elections are to take place today, and Mahmud Abbas was
nominated by Fateh and Ismail Haniyeh was nominated by Hamas, whom would
you vote for?
36%
36%
36%
1) Mahmoud Abbas
54%
47%
60%
2) Ismael Haniyyah
10%
17%
4%
4) DK/NA
Q11) And what if the competition was between Marwan Barghouti, Ismail
Haniyeh, and Mahmoud Abbas, to whom would you vote?
49%
61%
35%
1) Marwan Barghouti
33%
22%
46%
2) Ismael Haniyyah
14%
10%
18%
3) Mahmud Abbas
5%7%2%5) DK/NA11

Totalwest bank

Gaza Strip

Q12) And what if the competition was between Marwan Barghouti from Fatah andIsmail Haniyeh from Hamas, to whom would you vote?
61%
71%
50%
1) Marwan Barghouti
34%
22%
49%
2) Ismael Haniyyah
5%8%1%4) DK/NA
Q13) And what if the competition was between prime minister Mohammad
Shtayyeh from Fatah and Ismail Haniyeh from Hamas, to whom would you vote?
31%
32%
30%
1) Muhammad shteah
60%
55%
64%
2) Ismael Haniyyah
9%
13%
5%
4) DK/NA
Q15) If new elections agreed to by all factions are held today and the same lists thattook part in the last PLC elections were nominated, for whom would you vote?
2%3%1%1) alternative
4%5%3%2) independent Palestine2%2%1%3) Abu Ali Mustafa
0%0%1%4) Abu al Abbas
0%1%0%5) freedom and social justice6) change and reform
7) national coalition for justice and democ

34%
0%

26%
1%

43%
0%

8) third way(headed by salam fayyad)

0%

0%

1%

0%
0%
0%
9) freedom and independence0%1%0%10) Palestinian justice
34%
38%
30%
11) Fateh
21%
23%
20%
12) none of the above/ DK/NA/ Do notrememberQ17) President Abbas has postponed the legislative elections that were scheduled
for the 22nd of May and the presidential elections that were scheduled for 31 Of
July. Do you think legislative or legislative and presidential elections will indeed
take place in the near future in Palestinian territories?
30%
31%
29%
1) yes
63%
58%
69%
2) no
7%
11%
2%
3) DK-NA
Q18) From among the following vital national goals, which in your view should thefirst most important one and which should be the second most important goal that
the Palestinian people should strive to achieve?

Q18-1) first goal -----------1( Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders andthe establishment of a Palestinian state in theWest Bank and the Gaza Strip with East
Jerusalem as its capital2( Obtain the right of return to refuges to their1948 towns and villages
12

39%

43%

32%

33%

34%

32%

3( Establish a democratic political system that
respects freedoms and rights of Palestinians
4( Build a pious or moral individual and areligious society, one that applies all Islamicteachings
5) DK/NA
Q18-1) second goal ---------------1( Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders andthe establishment of a Palestinian state in theWest Bank and the Gaza Strip with East
Jerusalem as its capital

Total
13%

west bank
7%

Gaza Strip
20%

14%

13%

15%

1%

2%

0%

22%

25%

17%

39%
43%
32%
2( Obtain the right of return to refuges to their1948 towns and villages
19%
13%
29%
3( Establish a democratic political system that
respects freedoms and rights of Palestinians
18%
16%
21%
4( Build a pious or moral individual and areligious society, one that applies all Islamicteachings
2%3%0%5) DK/NA
Q19) The Palestinian society confronts today the following problems. Tell us, whatin your opinion, are the two main problems you want the Palestinian Authority andpolitical forces to address?
17%
11%
26%
1) the siege and blockade of the Gaza Strip2) the spread of corruption

25%

36%

8%

3) spread of unemployment and poverty4) continuation of occupation and settlements

21%

17%

27%

20%

21%

20%

5) the split between the West Bank and theGaza Strip

10%

7%

15%

6) the weak judiciary, the absence of liberties,
and the absence of accountability anddemocracy
7( DK/NA

4%

5%

4%

1%

1%

0%

Q20) Are you satisfied or not satisfied with the performance of Mahmud Abbas
since his election as president of the PA?
1) very satisfied2) satisfied
3) not satisfied4) not satisfied at all

4%
19%
32%
41%

2%
21%
35%
37%

7%
16%
28%
47%

5) DK/NA

4%

6%

1%

13

Totalwest bank

Gaza Strip

Q21) If it is up to you, would you want to have Abbas resign or not resign?
1) Certainly resign

43%

43%

43%

2) Resign
3) Not resign

32%
16%

30%
17%

36%
13%

4) Certainly not resign

4%

2%

6%

5) DK/NA

5%

7%

2%

Q21-1) Leaks have recently been published in the press and social media on a
Palestinian committee investigation into the death of Yasser Arafat. What is view
about this matter? Do you think a Palestinian actor or party had a role in Arafat’s
death?
14%9%21%1) Yes, a Palestinian actor planned to get ridof Arafat and implemented it
50%
53%
45%
2) A Palestinian actor or party did implementa plan by Israel to get rid of Arafat
24%
20%
29%
3) No, no Palestinian actor or party was
involved in Arafat’s death and Israel alone
planned and implemented it
12%
17%
5%
4) DK/NA
Q22) Now, after more than three years since the formation of a new Palestinian
government under prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, will the new government
succeed in pushing for reconciliation and reunification of the West Bank and theGaza Strip?
18%
18%
18%
1) yes
78%
77%
81%
2) no
4%
6%
1%
3) DK-NA
Q23) will the Shtayyeh government succeed in conducting legislative or legislativeand presidential elections?
20%
22%
17%
1) yes
76%
72%
82%
2) no
4%
6%
1%
3) DK-NA
Q24) will it succeed in improving economic conditions in the PA?
17%
17%
17%
1) yes
79%
79%
81%
2) no
3%
4%
2%
3) DK-NA
Q25) President Abbas issued a decree to form a higher judicial committee under
his chairmanship. Do you view this decree strengthening or weakening theindependence of the Palestinian judiciary?
19%
15%
25%
1) Strengthen it
72%
72%
71%
2) Weaken it
9%
13%
4%
3) DK/NA

14

Totalwest bank

Gaza Strip

Q26) Whom do you see as the most deserving of representing the Palestinian people
today, is it Hamas who controls the Gaza Strip or Fatah under Abbas leadership in
the West Bank?
28%
24%
35%
1) Hamas
25%
22%
28%
2) Fatah
40%
44%
33%
3) None of them2%1%3%4) Others, specify: ----------5%8%1%5) DK/NA
Q27) Some people say that the Palestinian Authority has become a burden on thePalestinian people while others say that it is an accomplishment for the Palestinian
people. What do you think?
36%
33%
42%
1) The PA is an accomplishment for thePalestinian people
59%
60%
57%
2) The PA is a burden on the Palestinian
people5%7%1%3) DK/NA
Q28) Which of the following problems are the most pressing for the Palestinians
today?
38%42%
31%1) The occupation
6%7%5%2) Internal violence
22%
30%
10%
3) Corruption
15%
7%
29%
4) Split
15%
10%
23%
5) Unemployment1%0%1%6) Poor infrastructure0%1%0%7) Poor medical services
2%2%1%8) Others: specify --0%0%0%9) DK/NA
Q28-1) From time to time, we hear about the drowning in the Mediterranean Sea ofPalestinians from the Gaza Strip while attempting to reach European countries
using illegitimate means. In your view, which party is the most responsible forpushing these young Gazans for means to escape the Gaza Strip? Is it …
18%
17%
20%
1) The immigrants themselves
18%
15%
23%
2) The Palestinian Authority
27%
25%
31%
3) Hamas in the Gaza Strip

4) Israel

24%

26%

21%

5) Egypt

3%

4%

1%

6%
8%
4%
6) Others: specify --3%
5%0%7) DK/NA
Q29) What expectations do you have for the future of reconciliation? Will it
continue and succeed or will it fail leading to a return to the split?
2%1%
3%1) Certainly succeed
24%
21%
28%
2) succeed
47%
47%
48%
3) fail15

Totalwest bank

Gaza Strip

25%
27%
21%
4) Certainly fail3%4%
1%5) DK/NA
Q29-1) Meetings of Palestinian factions in Algeria produced a new reconciliationagreement. Do you think this agreement will indeed lead to reconciliation?
26%
26%
27%
1) yes
67%
64%
71%
2) no
7%
10%
2%
3) DK-NA
Q30 President Abbas made a speech at the UN in which he described the evolving
conditions in the West Bank as a one state reality for the two peoples, thePalestinian and the Israeli and describe it as a reality of Apartheid. He emphasizedthat if the Israeli occupation is not ended, the Palestinians will demand equal rights
in one state for two peoples. Are you for or against this one state solution which thetwo sides enjoy equal rights?
26%
26%
27%
1) For71%70%72%2) Against
3%4%2%3) DK/NA
Q31) President Abbas says that he will not nominate himself in new presidential
elections. If it is up to you, who do you want to be the president after him?
39%
46%
28%
1) Marwan Barghouti
17%
12%
24%
2) Ismail Haniyeh
3%1%6%3) Khaled Meshaal
5%
1%
10%
4) Mohamed Dahlan
4%
1%
10%
5) Yahya Sinwar
3%2%4%6) Mohamed Shetia
3%1%5%7) Hussein Sheikh
5%5%4%8) Other:
22%
30%
10%
9) No opinion / I don't know
Q41) Do you support or oppose the solution based on the establishment of a
Palestinian state alongside Israel, known as the two-state solution.
32%
33%
30%
1) support
66%
64%
70%
2) oppose2%3%0%3) DK/NA
Q42) Some believe that the two-state solution, an independent Palestinian statealongside the state of Israel, is no longer viable due to settlement expansion whileothers believe that it is still viable today as settlements can be dismantled or
evacuated when an agreement is reached. What do you think?
69%
70%
68%
1) The two-state solution is no longer viable
28%
27%
31%
2) The two-state solution remains viable today
2%3%2%3) DK/NA

Q43) What in your view are the chances for the establishment of an independent
Palestinian state next to the state of Israel in the next five years?
42%
39%
47%
1) very low
30%
33%
26%
2) Low
22%21%23%3) Medium3%3%2%4) High16

Total1%2%5) very high6) DK/NA

west bank
1%
3%

Gaza Strip
2%0%Q46) Under current conditions, do you support or oppose the following policy options?

2) Joining more international organizations
17%
15%
21%
1) Strongly support
42%
43%
41%
2) support
26%
30%
20%
3) oppose
12%
8%
18%
4) Strongly oppose
2%4%0%5) DK/NA
3 ) Abandon the two -state solution and demand the establishment of one state forPalestinians and Israelis
8%7%9%1) Strongly support
19%
20%
18%
2) support
48%
50%
46%
3) oppose
23%
21%
27%
4) Strongly oppose
2%3%
1%5) DK/NA
4) Resort to popular non-violent and unarmed resistance
10%
9%
13%
1) Strongly support
41%
42%
40%
2) support
34%
35%
32%
3) oppose
13%
12%
15%
4) Strongly oppose2%2%0%5) DK/NA
5 Return to the armed intifada and confrontations
20%
14%
30%
1) Strongly support
35%
37%
31%
2) support
28%
31%
23%
3) oppose
15%
14%
16%
4) Strongly oppose
2%3%
1%5) DK/NA
6 Dissolve the Palestinian Authority
15%
13%
19%
1) Strongly support
33%
31%
37%
2) support
32%
36%
27%
3) oppose
15%
15%
16%
4) Strongly oppose
4%6%2%5) DK/NA
Q47) A decision has been made by A UN agency to go to the International Court ofJustice to express its advisory opinion of the legitimacy of the Israeli occupationand the legality of it the Israeli measures such as settlements. In your view, will thisdecision have an important positive impact on the reality on the ground?
16%
12%
23%
1) Yes, it will have a big impact in restricting
the Israeli measures, such as settlement
construction
28%
24%
35%
2) Yes, it will have an impact, but it will besymbolic and will have no impact on the
Israeli policy173) No, it will have no impact or benefit for thePalestinian people
4) DK/NA

Total
50%

west bank
56%

Gaza Strip
40%

5%

8%

2%

Q48) There is talk these days about Palestinian-Israeli confidence building
measures to improve living conditions of Palestinians in the West Bank and theGaza Strip. Palestinian-Israeli meetings took place with the goal of reaching an
understanding of some of those measures such as family unification permits andmaking additional funds available to the PA. Do you view these measures positively
and worth supporting or negatively and worth opposing?
57%
55%
60%
1) Positively
38%
36%
39%
2) Negatively0%1%0%3) Other: specify
5%7%1%4) DK/NA
Q49) In your view, what is the best means of achieving Palestinian goals in ending
the occupation and building an independent state?
21%
21%
21%
1) Negotiations
23%
21%
25%
2) Peaceful popular resistance
51%
50%
53%
3) Armed action
5%9%0%4) DK/NA
Q50) Armed groups, such as the Jenin Battalion and the Lions’ Den, have recently
appeared in parts of the West Bank such as the Jenin refugee camp and the old city
in Nablus. Are you for or against the formation of such armed groups that do nottake orders from the Palestinian Authority and are not part of the official security
services?
72%
65%
84%
1) In favor
22%
27%
16%
2) Against
5%9%0%3) DK/NA
Q51) To what extent you fear the formation of these armed groups might lead tointernal armed conflict between them and the PA security services?
27%
26%
28%
1) Fear that very much
32%
30%
34%
2) Fear that somewhat
24%
23%
26%
3) Do not fear that somewhat
15%
17%
12%
4) Do not fear that at all2%4%0%5) DK/NA
Q52) The Palestinian Authority has asked the members of the armed groups in
Nablus and Jenin to surrender and give up their arms in order to protect themfrom Israeli assassination. Are you for or against such a surrender and the give up
of arms to the PA security services?
17%
16%
18%
1) In favor
79%
78%
82%
2) Against
4%6%0%3) DK/NA18

Totalwest bank

Gaza Strip

Q53) Do you think the PA security services have the right to arrest members ofthese armed groups in order to prevent them from carrying out armed attacks
against Israel or to ensure their protection?
10%
9%
12%
1) Yes, it has the right
87%
87%
87%
2) No, it does not have the right3%4%
1%3) DK/NA
Q54) When thinking about the future of these armed groups, do you expect them toexpand and spread to other areas in the West Bank or do you expect the PA tocontain its spread or Israel to arrest its members?
59%
60%
57%
1) Expect them to expand and spread to new
areas
14%
8%
23%
2) Expect the PA to contain their spread3) Expect Israel to arrest or kill their members
4) Expect the PA to succeed in contain thegroups and Israel to arrest or kill theirmembers

15%
8%

16%
9%

12%
7%

5) DK/NA

4%

7%

1%

Q55) Benjamin Netanyahu is currently forming a government wit the right wing
Religious Zionism. How do you expect Israeli policy toward the Palestinians to beaffected now after return of Netanyahu in a government that includes the rightwing Religious Zionism?
61%
69%
50%
1) Will become more extreme and aggressive
30%
21%
43%
2) Will stay as it is today
4%3%7%3) Will become a little better
5%7%1%4) DK/NA
Q56) Do you think the upcoming Israeli government led by Netanyahu and theparticipation of religious extremists might change the status quo in al Haram al
Sharif, for example, by officially allowing Jews to pray in al Haram?
58%
62%
52%
1) Yes, I expect that
38%
32%
47%
2) No, I do not expect that
4%6%1%3) DK/NA
Q57) What about expelling some of the Palestinian families in Jerusalem, forexample residents of Sheikh Jarrah. Do you expect the new Israeli government led
by Netanyahu to expel them from their homes?
64%
70%
56%
1) Yes, I expect that
33%
27%
43%
2) No, I do not expect that
3%4%1%3) DK/NA
Q58) What about the settlement expansion. Do you think the upcoming Israeli
government to expel the Bedouins who are currently residing between Jerusalem
and Jericho, such as al Jahhalin, in order to allow the building of a new big
settlement to the east of Abu Dis and al Al Ezaria?

19

Totalwest bank

Gaza Strip

68%
76%
56%
1) Yes, I think so
28%
19%
42%
2) No, I do not think so
4%5%2%3) DK/NA
Q60) Furthermore, the extreme right might demand that the Netanyahu
government annex settlements or the Jordan Valley to Israel. Do you think theupcoming Israeli government led by Netanyahu will annex parts of the West Bank
to Israel?
69%
76%
58%
1) Yes, I think so
27%
19%
40%
2) No, I do not think so
4%5%2%3) DK/NA
Q61) Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud will soon become the Israeli Prime
Minister. Do you support a dialogue between the Palestinian leadership andNetanyahu in order to reach new agreements on confidence building measures,such as the issuing of more IDs, permits for laborers, and easing movement andtransportation or should the negotiations between the two sides be restricted toreaching a permanent peace agreement or should they cover both subjects? Orshould there be no negotiations at all?
12%
8%
18%
1) Yes to negotiations on confidence building
measures only
11%
10%
13%
2) Yes to negotiations on permanent peace
only
25%
22%
31%
3) Yes to negotiations on both subjects
47%
53%
38%
4) No to negotiations on any subject
5%8%1%5) DK/NA
Q62) Are you more or less optimistic about the improvement in Palestinian-Israeli
relations, such as reaching agreements in confidence building measures or reducing
settlement construction during next year?
12%
9%
15%
1) More optimistic
67%
71%
60%
2) Less optimistic
20%
16%
24%
3) Neither more nor less optimistic
2%3%0%4) DK/NA
Q63) In your view, how will economic conditions in your area (West Bank or Gaza
Strip) be in the next few (3-5) years compared to the situation today?
5%2%9%1) Much better
20%
17%
25%
2) A little better
25%
20%
32%
3) Same as today
23%4) A little worse than today

28%

24%
28%
5) Much worse than today2%3%6) DK/NA0%0%7) Refuse to answer
Q65) Concerning armed attacks against Israeli civilians inside Israel, I….
20%30%1) Strongly support
2) support
20

15%
31%

14%
18%
2%
0%
29%
28%

Totalwest bank32%34%3) oppose
14%14%4) Strongly oppose
4%7%5) DK/NA
Q66) Which of the following political parties do you support?
0%0%1) PPP2%
1%2) PFLP28%27%3) Fateh24%15%4) Hamas
1%2%5) DFLP2%2%6) Islamic Jihad0%0%7) Fida0%0%8) National inititiative (almubadara)
1%2%9) Independent Islamist
5%3%10) Independent nationalist
0%11) third way headed by salam feyyad

0%Gaza Strip
29%
14%
0%
1%
2%
30%
36%
1%
1%
0%
0%
1%
9%
0%

36%
48%
19%
12) none of the above0%0%0%13) others
Q67) If you use the internet to surf social sites like Facebook, Twitter, and various
groups or to access email, how many times do you normally do that?
56%
65%
42%
1) More than once a day
26%
20%
36%
2) daily
5%2%9%3) between 2-5 times weekly
2%1%4%4) once a week1%1%2%5) once a month0%0%0%6) other ------9%11%6%7) Does not apply—I have no email and do
not visit social sites
Q68) How would you evaluate the international standing of Qatar now in light of
its organization of the current World Cup football games? In your view, has its
international standing become better or worse?
68%
66%
70%
1) Much better
17%
14%
22%
2) somewhat better
8%8%6%3) stays as before
1%2%
1%4) Somewhat worse
1%2%0%5) Much worse
5%8%1%6) DK/NA
Q69) In Qatar, during the World Cup football games, Israeli journalists covering
the event were surprised by the size of the support expressed by the viewers forPalestine. To what extent did this World Cup restore some or much of your trust in
the Arab people after many disappointments following Arab normalization with
Israel?
66%64%70%1) Much of the trust has been restored21

Total21%2) some trust has been restored

west bank
19%

Gaza Strip
24%

5%
5%
4%
3) My trust remained little as it was before theWorld Cup
4) I have no trust whatsoever in the Arab
4%
5%
1%
World
5%
7%
1%
5) DK/NA
Q70) From among the remaining World Cup football teams currently playing in
the football games, which team you think will win?
19%
20%
18%
1) Brazil
13%
11%
16%
2) Argentina
1%0%2%3) Holland
9%
7%
12%
4) France
3%1%5%5) England
1%0%1%6) Croatia
49%
56%
40%
7) Morocco
5%4%6%8) Portugal

22