December 2007 PPC-GI poll: Majority of...

Results of a Public Opinion Poll

Annapolis International Meeting / Issues of Permanent Status

Field work: 6-8 December 2007
Sample Size: 1203 Palestinians in the West Bank & Gaza
Margin of error: ±5%

Conducted By:
AWRAD - Arab World for Research & Development

1- Highlights:
• 37% of the respondents say that they do not have information about the results of Annapolis meeting.
• 49% support a resumption of negotiations in order to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict within the timeframe specified by Annapolis (before the end of 2008).
• 62% agree with the timetable agreed-upon in Annapolis.
• 54% of respondents believe that negotiations will lead to a Palestinian state.
• 59% do not support the principle of equal land swap 1:1 between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
• 80% support the return of refugees to the PNA territories.
• 55% do not support the proposal where only a limited number of refugees are allowed to return to Israel.
• 50% do not accept the proposal to compensate and re-settle the refugees who choose not to return.
• 62% reject the division of Jerusalem between the Palestinians and the Israelis with a swap of areas by both sides.
• 48% believe that the Arab Peace Initiative is an appropriate reference to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict.
• 69% do not think that Hamas has a feasible alternative to end the Israeli occupation.
• 61% believe that negotiations will end the occupation and establish a Palestinian state.
• 54% oppose the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israeli territories.
• 64% support the steps being taken by Mahmoud Abbas towards ending the occupation.

2- Annapolis International meeting

a- Satisfaction with the results of Annapolis:

• Previous polls on Annapolis had shown a high degree of pessimism about the results of this meeting. A November poll conducted by AWRAD shown that 45% believe that the Annapolis meeting will not result in any positive or tangible results for the Palestinians.

• The current poll shows that a majority of 49% supports the outcome of the Annapolis meeting (that is to start a negotiation process in order to resolve the Palestinian- Israeli conflict before the end of 2008). In addition, 15% said that they (support to an extent). In contrast, 46% opposed these outcomes.

• The majority of respondents (62%) are satisfied with the timetable suggested in the meeting to reach an agreement before the end of (2008). 30% are not satisfied.

• Respondents are spilt on the issue of the ability of the negotiations to lead to a Palestinian state, where 54% believe that the negotiations will lead to a state, compared with 41% saying the opposite.

• Only 37% confirm that they have information on the meeting, while 16% say that they have some information. In contrast, 46% say that they have no information on the results of the meeting.

• The majority (64%) supports Abbas's steps towards ending the occupation. In comparison, 21% oppose such steps.

b- Final – Status Issues:

• When asked if the appropriateness of the Arab Peace Initiative as a reference for resolving the Arab- Israeli conflict, Palestinians were split, where 48% felt it was an appropriate reference, while 38% disagreed.

• The majority of respondents (59%) opposed the principle of equal land swap (1:1) between the Palestinians and Israelis. One third of the respondents supported.

• When asked about refugees, the majority of 80% supported their return to the PNA - controlled areas (West Bank and Gaza).

• In contrast, 55% refused the return of only a small number of refugees to Israel, while 43% supported such a proposition.

• As to compensating and re-settling those who do not wish to return,
Respondents were split on that. While 45% agreed, 50% disagreed.

• This poll confirms the results of previous polls that the majority (62%) rejects the division of Jerusalem between the Palestinians and Israelis, where East Jerusalem is for the Palestinians and West Jerusalem is for the Israelis, with the possibility of land swap between the two sides.

c- Conflict Resolution:
The poll examined Palestinian attitudes towards the best means for ending the occupation and reaching a Palestinian state.

• The majority (61%) believes that the best means to end the occupation is negotiations.

• Another 14% believe that the best means is a (peaceful popular uprising).

• In contrast, 15% believe that armed attacks against military and settlers are the best means.

• Less than 2% believe that attacks against civilians in Israeli cities are the best means to end occupation.