Hamas’ popularity soars after Gaza war, poll shows; Fatah declines

[ProgressiveMuslim]

Date: 05 / 02 / 2009 Time: 11:08


Bethlehem – Ma’an – Hamas’ popularity has soared in the wake of the Israeli war against the Gaza Strip, while that of the rival Fatah movement has declined, an opinion poll released on Wednesday showed.

The survey, by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Center (JMCC), used face-to-face interviews of nearly 1,200 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza as their data-points. This poll used the same question set as polls conducted in April and November 2008.

The percentage of individuals who would vote for Hams if parliamentary elections were held today rose to 28.6% compared with 19.3% in April. The popularity of Fatah declined from 34% last April to 27.9% in the poll.

This change was also reflected in the level of public trust in the two movements. Trust in Hamas rose from 16.6% last November to 27.7% in the poll. Trust in Fatah fell from 31.3% to 26% in the same period.

The overall rise in Hamas’ popularity is due to a change in sentiment in the West Bank, rather than in Gaza. Support from West Bankers more than doubled in three months - from 12.8% last November to 26.5% in this poll.

The poll also suggests that the Palestinian public prefers “resistance” as a strategy over the high-level political negotiations preferred by Fatah.

Almost a majority, 46.7%, believe that Hamas came out of the war victorious compared with only 9.8% who said that Israel won the war. Over one-third, 37.4%, said that neither side achieved victory in the war.

JMCC’s researchers found a striking disparity in the responses from the West Bank and Gaza. For example, 53.3% of respondents in the West Bank believe that Hamas won in the recent war, while 35.2% of respondents in Gaza Strip felt the same.

http://maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=35536

[Howardx]

1. "high-level political negotiations"

funny name for collaborating with your occupiers.

[Mosby]

2. according to this poll

75.5% of the Palestinians polled think the rocket attacks help their cause or doesn't hurt it.

55.4% support suicide bombing as a legitimate tactic.

Interestingly though 50.9% support a two-state solution and more people in Gaza than the WB support Fatah's legislative candidates (Hamas - WB = 29, Gaza = 28; Fatah - WB = 24.5, Gaza 33.6)

[GoesTo11]

3. Sounds like they're happy with the status quo then.

They attack, they get attacked, then never get a state but they get to wallow in self-pity. It's sufficient compensation.

[Turborama]

4. 9.8% said that Israel won the war. Over one-third, 37.4%, said that neither side achieved victory

It's clearly not as black and white as you portray it.

Also, one needs to look into the http://hippasus.wordpress.com/2009/01/03/gaza-surviving-inside-the-tiny-box/">cause and http://palestinian.ning.com/forum/topics/the-other-side-of-the-story">effect of the "They attack, they get attacked" scenario to properly understand what's going on...