Palestinian poll: Support in Hamas drops

[Fozzledick]

By BRENDA GAZZAR
GAZA CITY

A Palestinian poll conducted after Operation Cast Lead has found that 56 percent of residents in the Gaza Strip and 48.3% of Palestinians in the West Bank and east Jerusalem believe Hamas is leading them in the wrong direction.

The poll, conducted by the Beit Sahour-based Palestinian Center for Public Opinion and published last week, also found that the popularity of Fatah among Palestinians now exceeds the popularity of Hamas, in contrast to a November 2008 poll conducted well before Israel's military operation.

Today, Hamas is supported by only 27.8% of the population in the Gaza Strip, compared to 51.5% in November, said Dr. Nabil Kukali, founder and general director of the PCPO.

Fatah's popularity in the Hamas-controlled coastal territory lies at 42.5%, compared to 31.4% in November.

"Many Palestinians suffered from the war in Gaza… They lost their homes and their families," Kukali said. "The situation is unpredictable, and maybe they feel that Hamas did not make the right decision" when it did not renew its six-month truce with Israel that expired in December.

In the West Bank and east Jerusalem, Fatah is now supported by 39.2%, while Hamas is supported by only 23.7%, according to the poll. In November, Fatah was supported by 68.6% in the West Bank and east Jerusalem and by 31.4% in Gaza, Kukali said.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304721441&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[Idealism]

1. If that is true, the PA should be pushing hard for an election soon as possible

But, I don't think this is true at all. There have already been polls done and Hamas polled higher than it had 3 months ago...

[oberliner]

2. You don't think it's true at all?

What polls are you referencing?

Where they Gaza and West Bank combined as this one was?

[Idealism]

3. Yes

There were two polls a week or so back, one from Haaretz another from the AP. They polled Gaza and the West Bank, 500+ people both times iirc. The support for Hamas was higher in the West Bank than Fatah's, although Fatah edged them out in Gaza in one, and Fatah was barely behind Hamas in the other.

I still think that if they were to hold elections today, Hamas would win the most votes. And let us not forget, thats to US and Israeli meddling in Palestinian politics, the electoral system they use is the most proportional democratic electorate in history. It led to Hamas winning 44% of the vote, yet nabbing over 70% of the seats in Palestinian parliament, you may see a repeat of that.

[oberliner]

4. Have you got a link?

Thanks in advance! I have not seen these polls you speak of.

[Idealism]

5. Here is one

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25014788-2703,00.html

Hamas 'more popular' since Israeli action

1200 people polled, 758 in WB 440 in Gaza.