Poll: Palestinians prefer Fatah gov't over Hamas-led cabinet - Haaretz

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Last update - 14:04 23/08/2007

Poll: Palestinians prefer Fatah gov't over Hamas-led cabinet

By The Associated Press

Palestinians overwhelmingly prefer the Western-backed government of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad over the ousted Hamas' government, although residents of the Gaza Strip believe their security has improved since Hamas seized control of the area, according to a poll released Thursday.

The survey by Ghassan Khatib, an independent and respected pollster, was the first since Hamas took over Gaza in five days of bloody fighting in June.

Following the takeover, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas threw Hamas out of the unity government with his Fatah Party and formed his new Cabinet based in the West Bank. Hamas, which continues to control Gaza, refuses to recognize the new government.

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In the new poll, 47 percent said the Fayyad government is performing better than the previous Hamas-led Cabinet led by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. In comparison, 24 percent favored Haniyeh's government, while 23 percent said there was no difference between the two governments. Six percent did not answer.

Even in Hamas' Gaza stronghold, 47 percent of respondents said they think the Fayad government is performing better than Haniyeh's government, compared with 31 percent who say Fayad is worse.

Still, Gaza residents say their security situation has improved since Hamas took power. The militant group has pledged to restore law and order to the chaotic area, banning public displays of weapons.

According to the poll, 44 percent of Gaza respondents said their personal
security has improved, while 31 percent said it has become worse.

However, with Gaza facing isolation and economic hardship, 45 percent of
Gazans say the general situation has worsened, while 34 percent say it is
better.

The poll indicated diminished support for Hamas, which trounced Fatah in
January 2006 legislative elections.

When asked which party they support, 34 percent of the respondents said Fatah and 21 percent said Hamas. The same question before Hamas takeover in June brought Fatah 33 percent and Hamas 29 percent.

If presidential elections were held today, Abbas would get 20 percent of the vote, Haniyeh 18 percent and Marwan Barghouti - a Fatah leader imprisoned by Israel - would get 16 percent.

The question did not take into account the possibility that Abbas or Barghouti might pull out of such a race to back the other in a showdown with Hamas.

The poll questioned 1,200 people in the Gaza Strip and West Bank and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

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1.	Don`t Give Me Polls - Give Me Elections	15:00	\|	Mike	23/08/07

2.	Most Hamas supporters don`t reveal their	15:08	\|	Khalid	23/08/07

3.	The Israeli Uncle Tom will not be calling an election just yet	15:39	\|	Clickfool	23/08/07

4.	Mike, the Israelis are the true killers, not Hamas	15:41	\|	honest observer	23/08/07

5.	The poll is a confirmation	16:04	\|	Fawzi	23/08/07

6.	#1 Elections? What Will They Do With Democracy?	16:11	\|	Bill Foonman	23/08/07

7.	More propaganda to justify Israel`s action...	16:41	\|	Dutch	23/08/07

8.	47% does not = "overwhelmingly prefer"	17:21	\|	Paul	23/08/07

9.	Ghassan Khatieb poll may be misleading	17:26	\|	El-birawi	23/08/07

10.	47 yes, 47 no. not 47 yes, 24 no, 23 no.	17:58	\|	frgfghfhgfghfghfgfds	23/08/07

11.	Equitable & practical plan to sort out Hamas & end the occupation	18:14	\|	Uzi	23/08/07

12.	I dunno how to say this, its Israel turn to recognise Hamas now	18:25	\|	Tamir Palestine	23/08/07

13.	Salam Fayad	18:26	\|	Sam	23/08/07

14.	Half the story	18:45	\|	ami	23/08/07

15.	#1 Mike - Faint praise for Abbas	19:03	\|	Yonatan	23/08/07

16.	`palestinians` prefer fatah over hamas	19:15	\|	elliot	23/08/07

17.	Thank You Yonaton	20:02	\|	Mike	23/08/07

18.	I wouldn`t accept these findings ....	20:03	\|	Dutch	23/08/07

19.	Tamir......really? They stopped?	20:15	\|	Dan	23/08/07

20.	Dutch...a question for you	20:21	\|	Dan	23/08/07

21.	poll must have been taken by a drunk	20:28	\|	sami	23/08/07

22.	Polls Are Meaningless	21:18	\|	dyinglikeflies	23/08/07

23.	Only elections can tell	22:37	\|	John	23/08/07

24.	Dishonest observer	23:01	\|	An Israeli	23/08/07

25.	Choice of Terrorists	00:13	\|	Yoram	24/08/07

26.	WIN-WIN IS WHEN MINIMAX EQUALS MAXIMIN	03:11	\|	Mohamed Malleck	24/08/07

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