Palestinians speak out on Abu Mazen's New Government:

• Widespread support (75%) for Mahmoud Abbas' (Abu Mazen) proposal to centralize decision-making on national issues.

• The majority (72%) wants to give Abu Mazen's government a "fair chance" to succeed.

• Conditional support for stopping attacks against Israeli targets (71%)

• Ending the occupation (59.2%), improving economic conditions (13.6%) and rooting out corruption (9%) are priorities.

• The public is split on the competence of the new government.

• The public is split over the issue of ending the possession of "unlicensed" weapons (48% support, 46% oppose).

• A Majority (52%) thinks the new government was appointed through "undemocratic mechanisms".

• Broad support for resumption of negotiations with Israel (63%).

• Widespread doubts about the intentions of Israel and the United States concerning the new government and the Road Map.

• For questions or inquiries, please contact Dr. Nader Said or Ayman Abdulmajeed at the listed numbers.

•  All results represent the opinions of the respondents and do not represent the viewpoint of Birzeit University or the Development Studies Programme or any other related body.

• For details on our methodology, refer to our web page.

• Many thanks go to the field researchers, and to the International Republican Institute (IRI) for their support.

Photos from the Press Conference on the Opinion Poll, May 20, 2003

Photos by: Nasser Nasser

[Click on Photo to Enlarge]