The Negotiations and Final Settlement Issues
United States President Bush’s Visit to the Region
Internal Issues
Palestinian Elections
Field work: 16-18 January 2008
Sample Size: 3200 Palestinians in The West Bank & Gaza
Margin of error: + 2
Main Results
- 64% do not think that the current negotiations will lead to a Palestinian state.
- 49% support a two-state solution based on UN Resolution 242 (a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza side-by-side to an Israeli state)
- 95% say that the issue of control over Jerusalem is very important, and 94% say that the issue of prisoner release is very important.
- 42% believe that negotiation until an agreement is reached between the two parties is the best means to end the occupation and establish a Palestinian state.
- Less than 4% support attacks against Israeli civilians as the best means to end occupation. However, 28% support attacks against soldiers and settlers.
- 70% of respondents followed (fully or partially) the news on the Bush visit to the region.
- 62% believe that Bush’s positions conform to previous American policy.
- 74% believe that Bush's visit will not give any hope to the establishment of a Palestinian state. 82% believe that it will not put a stop to Israeli settlement activities.
- 65% believe that Bush's visit will reinforce the Israeli occupation and 78% believe that it will tighten the closure on Gaza.
- 48% support the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israeli territories.
- 46% support the steps taken by Mahmoud Abbas towards ending the occupation.
- 31% evaluate the ministerial cabinet headed by Fayyad and Hanneyeh as good.
- 62% say that Hamas has no real alternative to end the Israeli occupation, and 56% say that Fateh has no real alternative to end the Israeli occupation.
- 64% of respondents think that Palestinian society is heading in the wrong direction.
- If PLC elections took place today, Fateh would receive 32% of the votes and Hamas would receive 18%.
- In a two-way race, anyone of the following personalities (Marwan Bargouthi, Abbas, Mustafa Bargouthi, and Fayyad) could win over Ismael Hanneyeh.
- In a two-way race between Marwan Bargouthi and Abbas, Marwan receives 43% of the vote, while Abbas receives 21%.
- In a two-way race between Marwan Bargouthi and Hanneyeh, Marwan receives 45%, while Hanneyeh receives 24%.
For More Details, please see the following:
Analysis 
Detailed Results
Sample Distribution
Arabic Reports 
With support from the International Republican Institute (IRI) & Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI)