Survey finds Abbas' popularity has dropped significantly in the last three months, with just 49% of support compared to 44% for Hamas leader.
By Avi Issacharoff | Jun.27, 2012
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' popularity has
dropped significantly in the last three months, while support for Hamas
has risen, according to a new poll released on Wednesday.
The poll circulated by Khalil Shikaki's Palestinian Center for Policy
and Survey Research found that if Abbas were to contend against Hamas
leader Ismail Haniyeh for the Palestinian Presidency, he would win
approximately 49 percent of the vote, while the latter would secure 44
percent.
The rift between the two in the West Bank stands at 7 percent – in
Abbas' favor – and 4 in the Gaza Strip, at 4 percent. The polls survey
Palestinian residents in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The poll held just three months ago found a rift of 12 percent between
the two – with Abbas supported by 54 percent of those questioned and
Haniyeh by 42 percent.
The current poll also found that if Fatah strongman Marwan Barghouti
(who is currently serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison) were
to contend against Haniyeh for the presidency, he would win 60 percent
of the votes over the Hamas leader's 34 percent.
If a run-off were held with Barghouti, Abbas, Haniyeh and Abbas
together, Barghouti would secure 37 percent of the votes, Haniyeh would
get 33 percent, and Abbas would be in last place with just 25 percent.
The Fatah movement would win 40 percent of the votes for Palestinian
parliament, according to the poll, while Hamas would get 29 percent. 12
percent of voters would choose a different party, while 19 percent are
still undecided.
The poll reflects a 7 percent drop in popularity for Fatah in the Gaza Strip compared to poll held three months ago.
