This House believes Palestinians risk becoming their own worst enemy
Tuesday April 01 2008
MOTION PASSED
by 71% to 29%
Opinion poll
Hamas-Fatah conflict a bigger threat to Palestinians than Israel according to poll
DOHA, QATAR 12th May 2008: Nearly 40 per cent of Arabs think that the Hamas-Fatah conflict is a bigger threat to Palestinians than Israel, according to a YouGov poll commissioned by The Doha Debates.
The survey results add weight to the views expressed by the mainly-Arab audience at The Doha Debates, filmed on April 1st, who warned that Palestinians risk becoming their own worst enemy. A motion to that effect was passed by 70.9 per cent to 29.1 per cent.
The YouGov poll, which was conducted between the 21st and 27th April, surveyed the views of 717 people in the Gulf, Levant, North Africa, and Iraq.
The poll also revealed widespread pessimism about the peace process, with 60 per cent of Arabs across the region believing that the two-state solution is dead. Eighty-eight per cent do not accept that Israel wants peace.
Palestinian leaders were strongly criticised at The Doha Debates on April 1st and are blamed by over 60 per cent of respondents for corruption and human rights abuse. But more than 70% cite American and Israeli influence as the biggest causes of Palestinian strife.
The poll indicates, however, that many Arabs remain sympathetic to the Palestinians. One in two Arabs has grown more sympathetic to the Palestinians over the past five years, while only one in five has lost sympathy.
Polling dates: 21- 27 April 2008
Download the polling data [PDF]
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