Poll: Hamas popularity dips, still higher than that of Fatah

[Behind the Aegis]

A new Palestinian public opinion poll shows that less Palestinians are now willing to vote for Hamas if elections were held today, compared to last month.

However, the poll, released on Saturday, found that the popularity of Hamas remains higher than that of its main rival, Fatah.

The poll said support for Hamas stood at 38 percent compared to 30 percent for Fatah.

The poll, conducted by Birzeit University's Development Studies Program on April 19, three weeks after Hamas formed its first ever government, found that 44 percent said they would vote for Hamas if elections were held on the survey date compared to 50 percent who said they would vote for Hamas in a poll conducted only 20 days earlier, on March 29.


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