The most significant result of a recent Palestinian Center for
Public Opinion (PCPO) survey is that the majority of the
Palestinians, specifically (79.8%), (81.2%) in Gaza Strip and
(79.0%) in the West Bank, are concerned about their families'
subsistence following the halt of U.S. and European Union financial
and economic to the Palestinian government and the suspension of
tax transfers by the Israeli government.
The survey was prepared by PCPO Director Dr. Nabil Kukali and
conducted during April 14-17, 2006. A random sample of (675)
Palestinian adults over 18 years old, representing the various
demographic sectors in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and
in the Gaza Strip was interviewed.
The Findings:
Concern About Living Standards:
Responding to the question: "To what degree are you at present
concerned about the subsistence of your family?"; (41.7%) replied
"very much concerned", (38.1%) "concerned", (11.0%)
"not so much concerned", (7.9%) "not concerned at all" and
(1.3%) replied "I don't know".
Attitude of the Israeli Government:
A majority (50.2%) of the respondents believe that the Israeli
government's suspension of all contacts with the Palestinian
government will strengthen Hamas, while (47.7%) said it weakens
Hamas, and (2.1%) didn't express their opinion.
Statement of the US Secretary of State:
Responding to the question: Do you agree or disagree with the
following statement by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of
April 7: "Because the new Hamas-led Palestinian government has
failed to accept the Quartet principles of nonviolence, recognition
of Israel and respect for previous agreements between the parties,
the United States is suspending assistance to the Palestinian
government's cabinet and ministries"; (13.1%) said "strongly
agree", (28.6%) "somewhat agree", (22.8%) "somewhat
disagree", (35.0%) "strongly disagree" and (0.5%) answered
"don't know".
Aid and Violence:
A clear majority (59.8%) of Palestinians believe that halting
foreign financial and economic aid will increase violence in the
region, while (20.8%) said "it will decrease it" and (19.1%) think
"it will have no effect at all", and (0.3%) didn't
respond.
The Detrimental Effects of the Suspension of Foreign Aid on the
Palestinian Citizen:
Respondents were asked to grade the detrimental effects of the
suspension of foreign aid, where (1) stands for the worst effects
and (6) the least. The results were as follows:
1. Family income 20.0%
26.7% 20.1% 10.5% 9.8%
12.9%
2. Availability of food 19.0% 27.3%
20.4% 12.4% 12.1%
8.8%
3. Education
13.8% 10.8% 14.2%
18.1% 23.3% 19.8%
4. Health services 9.3%
9.0% 16.7% 24.0%
22.2% 18.8%
5. Raising children 7.3%
9.3% 12.3% 19.4%
20.6% 31.1%
6. Job opportunities 30.2% 17.2%
16.7% 16.1% 10.7%
9.1%
Significance of U.S. and European Aid:
Regarding the question: "To which extent does U.S. and European
financial and economic aid contribute to the well-being of the
Palestinian people?"; (37.3%) said "to a high degree",
(44.0%) "to a medium degree", (12.8%) "to an unimportant
degree", (5.2%) said "nil", and (0.7%) "don't know".
Reconsidering the Decision:
Around one-third (36.9%) of the respondents said "their view of the
U.S. and the EU would be highly positive if these countries
reconsidered their decision to halt financial and economic aid,
while (32.6%) "would have a moderately positive view", (30.4%) said
"their view would remain unchanged", and (0.1%) declined to respond
to the question.
What Donor Countries Should Do:
An overwhelming majority (73.9%) of the respondents called on the
governments of the U.S. and the EU to continue their financial and
economic aid, while (24.3%) called for halting the aid, and (1.8%)
declined to answer.
Furthermore, (31.6%) of the respondents called on the U.S. and EU
to channel the aid to Palestinians through the office of
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, (38.2%) said
"through Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, (22.5%) said "through
UN organizations like UNRWA, (7.3%) suggested "through the
NGO's" and (0.4%) are for "otherwise".
What Palestinians Should Do:
Responding to the question: "In the light of the grave Israeli
escalation against the Palestinian people and the corresponding
declaration of the Israeli government on the suspension of its
relations with the Palestinian Authority, and the U.S. and EU halt
of financial and economic aid to the Palestinian people, what
should the Palestinians do?"; (17.9%) suggested "to finally
dissolve the Palestinian Authority", (17.9%) proposed that
"PA President Abbas should resign and new presidential elections to
be held", (46.7%) wanted "to form a government of national
unity", (16.7%) suggested "the present Palestinian government
should resign and to run new legislative elections", while (0.8%) "
had no opinion".
Financial and Economic Aid From Arab Countries:
A clear majority (58.7%) of the respondents said the Arab countries
are capable of replacing the financial and economical aid suspended
by the Europeans and the U.S., while (40.1%) said "they are
incapable of doing so", and (1.2%) declined to respond to the
question.
Optimism and Pessimism:
Responding to the question "After the formation of the present
Palestinian government under Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, are you
more optimistic or more pessimistic than in the past ?"; (24.3%)
said "more optimistic", (31.3%) said "they remained optimistic as
in the past", (20.0%) said "they remained pessimistic as in
the past", whilst (23.1%) said "they are more pessimistic than in
the past", and (1.3%) "don't know".
Survey Methodology
All interviews took place on the basis of random choices of
respondents' homes. The choices were taken from a total of 125
sites, from which 90 sites are in the West Bank and 35 sites in
Gaza Strip. The margin of error was (±3.77%) at significance
and confidence levels of (5%) and (95%) respectively.
