<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[90% of Palestinians would no longer back the peace process if West Bank settlement building&nbsp;restarted]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p><span id="texttomodify1" class="text9"><span style="color:#990000;"><em><em>49% of Palestinians believe the peace process will continue even if West Bank settlement building restarts </em></em></span>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color:#990000;"><em><em>53% of Palestinians believe Mahmoud Abbas is the legitimate voice of the Palestinian people </em></em></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color:#990000;"><em><em> <span id="bannerzone9337"> </span> </em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#990000;"><em><em>57% of Palestinians believe Hamas should be involved in the peace talks</em></em></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dubai, 01 November 2010. These are the first published survey results  from our new series of polls gauging opinion amongst Palestinians.</p>
<p>434 Palestinian residents, both West Bank and Gaza, responded to the survey during the period 3 &#8211; 16 October 2010.</p>
<p>The issue of Israeli settlement building in the West Bank is critical to  the success of any direct peace talks. 90% of respondents would no  longer back the peace process if settlement building recommenced.  However, only 49% believed that the expiration of the Israeli settlement  moratorium (on 30 September) would bring an end to this round of peace  talks.</p>
<p>Palestinian representation is a sensitive issue as Hamas, who retain  control over the Gaza Strip, are still officially recognised by the US  as a terrorist organisation. When asked whether Hamas should be involved  in the peace talks 57% of our respondents said yes (although  interestingly this was higher in the West Bank 62%, than in Gaza 52%).  Only 53% of respondents believe that Mahmoud Abbas is the legitimate  voice of the Palestinian people (50% in the West Bank, 57% Gaza).</p>
<p>Inevitably in political talks of this magnitude the personalities of the  individuals involved will be a significant factor. When asked which  head of state had impressed them during these negotiations, a resounding  majority (63%) of our respondents thought that none had impressed them.  Although when asked which head of state was the most influential Barack  Obama was the clear leader with 41%. When asked which other parties  involved in the talks had impressed them it was the Palestinians who  gained favour, Saeb Ariqat (Palestinian negotiator) 30% and Nabil Abu  Rudeina (President Abbas&#8217; spokesperson) 13%.</p>
<p>When asked for their overall perceptions of the peace talks, 61% of  respondents&#8217; opinion was negative as opposed to 16% which was positive.</p>
<p>The top 3 reasons given for negative sentiment were:</p>
<p>1) It&#8217;s just like any other peace talks,</p>
<p>2) Palestinians and Israelis will not be able to reach a compromise,</p>
<p>3) Hamas and Fatah cannot reach agreement for Palestinians so how will Palestinians reach agreement with Israel?</p>
<p>When asked for the likelihood of success of the current peace talks,  respondents&#8217; opinion was similarly negative with 60% believing that the  likelihood of success was &#8216;unlikely&#8217; whilst only 24% thought that the  likelihood of success was &#8216;likely&#8217;. Expectations of respondents should  these talks fail is war of some kind, whether it be between Israelis and  Palestinians or a wider theatre involving regional and/or international  players.</p>
<p>On a wider note, we sought to find out whether the Palestinians thought  that the two-state solution, currently being propagated, was the only  solution. The response we got was mixed, 51% thought yes whilst 49%  thought no. 47% of respondents would accept a single Israeli-Palestinian  state if they were given equal rights (32% opted for no, 21% were  undecided).</p>
<p>We asked each of our respondents what one statement they would like to  make to the leaders negotiating for peace. Responses varied but three of  the more apt ones are detailed below (quoted verbatim):</p>
<p>1) &#8216;I say to them that the status of the Palestinian people is getting  worse every day. I wish there are solutions so we restore some of our  dignity and carry on with our lives.&#8217;</p>
<p>2) &#8216;We want to live in peace, we want freedom. Please work on achieving  it for a nation that has lived under the oppression of occupation for  over 60 years.&#8217;</p>
<p>3) &#8216;They should only abide by the International Laws and UN resolutions; as this will solve the Palestinian case.&#8217;</p>
<p>Lara Al Barazi, Associate Research Director, YouGov Siraj commenting on the results said</p>
<p>&#8220;YouGov Siraj is offering Palestinians- living in Palestine- a great  platform to voice their opinions. Going through the results, we easily  detected the frustration Palestinians feel not only from the current  economic and political conditions, but most importantly for not being  heard. Palestinians are obviously eager to have a final solution to  their ongoing struggle and live a peaceful life like any other citizen  of the world.&#8221;</p>
<p>YouGov Siraj continues to show that it is able to measure and gauge the  opinions of real people across the region on real issues every day.</p>
<p>-Ends-</p>
<p><strong>About YouGov Siraj<br />
</strong><em>YouGov Siraj is a full-service market  research company that covers the full spectrum of the Muslim world from  Morocco in the west to Pakistan in the east, specialising in online  polling and qualitative research. YouGov Siraj has the region&#8217;s largest  pure research panel of 225,000+ members, who respond to surveys. The  company has particularly strong analytical skills, with research  specialists who have many years regional experience. YouGov Siraj acts  as a research consultancy for clients on research projects of any size,  outsourcing face-to-face and telephone data collection, ensuring the  very best service the region can offer. It is a subsidiary company of  YouGov Plc, based in the UK and applies the same online methodology,  which has proven levels of accuracy. </em></p>
<p>For further information contact:<br />
Anthony Smith,<br />
usiness Development Director,<br />
YouGov Siraj<br />
Tel: 00971 4 434 7594 / 00971 50 650 8938<br />
<a href="mailto:anthony.smith@yougov.com">anthony.smith@yougov.com</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>© Press Release 2010</p>
<p></span></p>
<p>via <a href="http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20101102070304">90% of Palestinians would no longer back the peace process if West Bank settlement building restarted</a>.</p>
]]></html></oembed>