Poll of Palestinians Shows Distrust in Negotiations, Hamas
by JNS.org
JNS.org – A poll conducted by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Center in eastern Jerusalem showed that half of Palestinians believe that the Palestinian Authority should not have resumed Israeli-Palestinian conflict talks. Seventy percent of Palestinians said they don’t believe the negotiations would result in an agreement.
The poll surveyed 1,200 Palestinians above the age of 18 from the West Bank and Gaza Strip in mid-November. About one-third of respondents said they prefer armed resistance over peaceful negotiations. Thirty percent of Palestinians blame Hamas for the division between the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Twenty percent of respondents continue to trust PA President Mahmoud Abbas, compared to only 11 percent who expressed trust for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the poll revealed.