Highlights

·        There is an increase in the popularity of President Mahmoud Abbas, with 54% evaluating his performance as good, compared with 41% in November 2005.

·        Approximately 70% of Palestinian respondents believe that Hamas must recognize the PLO as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinians.

·        61% call upon the new Hamas-led government to recognize the Declaration of Independence.

·        90% support the new government entering into negotiations with Israel to reach an agreement through an international conference.

·        78% support Hamas entering into direct negotiations with Israel.

·        The poll reveals a drastic decline in support for suicide attacks, with 35% supporting Hamas carrying out suicide attacks in Israeli cities compared with 75% in June 2001 (40 points decline).  Furthermore, 60% of respondents now oppose such attacks, compared with 19% in June 2001.

·        70% believe Hamas must recognize international conventions and and resolutions on Palestine.

·        Whereas 58% support a two-state solution (Palestine and Israel), 64% oppose Hamas recognizing the state of Israel at this point in time.

·        60% believe the new government is capable of improving government services and uprooting corruption.

·        64% evaluate the performance of Prime Minister Ismael Haneyyeh as good, while 19% believe it is fair, and 6% believe it is weak.

·        If PLC elections took place today, Hamas would receive 50% of the vote and Fateh would receive 38%. Support for both parties, however, is lower than these percentages. 40% of respondents described themselves as Hamas supporters, while 30% were Fateh supporters.

·        93% support regular and plural elections.

·        87% support a constitution based on equal rights for all citizens regardless of religion.

·        67% evaluate Palestinian conditions as bad or very bad.

·        78% trust or somewhat trust Palestinian public opinion polling.