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PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (file)
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| By israelinsider staff March 26, 2007 |
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According to a recent poll by An-Najah University, a significant number of Gaza Palestinians, more than two-thirds, believe the Hamas leadership has failed in its role as head of the government, reported Army Radio Monday.
In response to the recent formation of a unity government, more than fifty percent of those polled agreed that Hamas had strayed from its core platform by joining Fatah, and less than one quarter said they would vote for Hamas again if the chance arose.
According to a second poll, "Some 48 percent of respondents want the Hamas-Fatah coalition to meet the international demands - a step that would mean an end to a punishing year-long boycott of the Palestinian Authority, that has driven many Palestinians deeper into poverty," reported Haaretz.
An equal percentage disagreed, claiming they wouldn't want the new government to modify its policies to gain international approval.
Though Hamas and Fatah were successful in finally creating a unity government, causing the reinstatement of some international aid, the financial situation in the PA remains dire.
The An-Najah University poll showed that almost one-third of respondents would leave the PA to live elsewhere if they could.
According to the World Bank, 70% of the 1.4 million Palestinians residents of the Gaza Strip are living in poverty (living on less than $2.30 per day).
After Hamas won elections over Fatah in early 2006, the international community chose to boycott the PA to pressure it to acquiesce to the Quartet's demands that it denounce terror, recognize Israel and accept former agreements. The economic sanctions crippled the PA, leaving many workers unpaid and aggravating the tense fighting which ensued between Fatah and Hamas.
The first poll was conducted in the Gaza strip by An-Najah University in Nablus.
The second poll was done by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, and surveyed 1,270 Palestinians last week with a three percent margin of error. |
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