Most Palestinians say Abbas doing a good job
Photo: Attila Somfalvi
Poll: Most Palestinians support pullout
Close to 57 percent of survey respondents say withdrawal is a positive step for peace; 76 percent give Palestinian leader Abbas high marks
A majority of Palestinians believe that Israel's plan to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip and four northern West Bank settlements this summer is a positive step for peace, according to a poll released Friday.
Pullout Nearing
By Ali Waked and Associated Press
Palestinian Minister Mohammed Dahlan says Israel must transfer control over all Gaza border crossings to Palestinian Authority as part of upcoming pullout; issue to be raised in next meeting with Mofaz, Dahlan says
However, nearly 53 percent of Palestinians polled - and nearly 57 percent of Gazans asked - said they thought the pullout was good for the peace process. Only 33 percent believed the withdrawal was a bad move for peace.
The poll, by the Jerusalem Media and Communication Center, surveyed a random sample of 1,200 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza from May 2 to May 7. It had a 3 percent margin of error.
Abbas gets high marks
According to the survey, 65 percent of those polled believed maintaining the recent cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians for the rest of the year served the interests of the Palestinians. About 30 percent disagreed.
However, only 39 percent said they would support the Palestinian security services using force against terrorists opposed to the cease-fire, while 55 percent disagreed.
The poll also gave strong support to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, with 76 percent of respondents saying he is doing a good or fairly good job. The poll also showed the ruling Fatah party as the most popular ahead of July parliamentary elections with the support of 36 percent of those polled.
Meanwhile, the Hamas received the support of 20 percent of poll respondents.
