Global Arab Network | Poll: Palestinians support peace and believe Meshaal does too

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Poll: Palestinians support peace and believe Meshaal does too

Global Arab Network - - Adam Turner

Thursday, 30 July 2009 19:02

An overwhelming majority of Palestinians believe Hamas leader in exile Khaled Meshaal has recognised Israel’s right to exist following his June speech where he expressed support for a two-state solution, a recent poll found.

A monthly poll for the Near East Consulting Company released in July focused on Palestinian perceptions of political change amongst the rival parties Fateh and Hamas. The poll was carried out from 4-6 of July on a random sample of 949 respondents in the West Bank and Gaza.

Trust was not high in any party, with only 38% expressing confidence in Fateh, 11% in Hamas and 5% in other factions. Similar numbers came out for trust in the leaders of each movement, with 37% saying they trusted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 12% trusting de facto Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. A majority of 51% do not have trust in either leader.

As for government legitimacy, 46% feel the second caretaker government under Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is legitimate while 20% believed that the de facto government headed by Ismail Haniyeh is legitimate; 34% said neither were legitimate representatives of Palestinians. Ninety percent of respondents supported holding legislative and presidential elections.

Of those who would vote, 35% would elect Abbas, 24% would elect Marwan Al-Barghouthi, 12% Ismail Haniyeh and only 2% would vote for Meshaal.

Most Palestinians want peace

Two-thirds of Palestinians support a peace settlement with Israel (77%), and 70% would agree to disarm all factions and leave security in the hands of the Palestinian Authority security services.

Pessimism reigned over prospects that US President Barack Obama would seriously pursue the halt of settlement construction, with 64% of respondents saying he was unlikely to or would not push toward the goal. While most were for a peace deal, 92% supported President Abbas’ decision to halt peace talks until settlement construction is frozen. (Ma'an News)

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