Abbas overtakes Haniyeh in Palestinian survey
Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research conducts periodical popularity survey of Palestinian leaders, finds Palestinian president's popularity exceeds that of Hamas PM by 12%
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's popularity rebounded in a survey released on Monday after he renewed his call for dialogue with the Hamas Islamists who control the Gaza Strip.
The poll, conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research, suggested that Abbas would win 52% of the vote against 40% for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh if a presidential election were held in the Palestinian territories now.
A survey by the same group in March showed Haniyeh leading Abbas by 47% to 46%.
The new poll was conducted shortly after Abbas called for "a national and comprehensive dialogue" with Hamas, which seized Gaza from Abbas's more secular Fatah faction last June.
Abbas's call was welcomed by Haniyeh, though aides to Abbas quickly insisted there was no change in his demand that Hamas give up control of the Gaza Strip.
The polling centre said the continued closure of Gaza's border crossing with Egypt was undercutting Hamas's standing.
Haniyeh served as prime minister in the Hamas-led Palestinian government that was dismissed by Abbas after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah-led forces.
The survey found that, if new parliamentary elections were to take place, Hamas would receive 31%t while Fatah would receive 43%. The March poll had given Hamas 35% and Fatah 42%.
The new survey also found that Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi, imprisoned in Israel and seen as a possible successor to Abbas, would defeat Haniyeh by 27% if he were able to stand for election.
Ali Waked contributed to this report
