Palestinian Poll Shows Strong Support for PNA Institutional Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 27, 2002

Washington, D.C. --A majority of Palestinians consider Palestinian National Authority reform is essential to benefit the Palestinian cause, according to an IRI-sponsored poll released this week.

Eighty-one percent of those polled consider PNA reform a pressing matter, while 74 percent believe that properly implemented reforms would be advantageous to Palestinian interests.

The poll also shows that 58 percent of Palestinians continue to support the notion of legislative elections. There has been, however, an 11 percent decline in the number of people who state they intend to vote.

Other significant findings show an increasing number of Palestinians are dissatisfied with the results of the Intifada. In addition, economic and social conditions in the West Bank and Gaza continue to deteriorate. More than half of respondents, 56 percent, report a partial loss of income and 28 percent state a complete income loss.

The poll was conducted and released by the Development Studies Program (DSP) at Birzeit University and supported by the International Republican Institute (IRI).

Established in 1997, the Development Studies Program is a specialized policy and research center devoted to Palestinian development issues. DSP's activities are overseen by Dr. Nader Said, the former head of the Survey Research Unit at the Center for Palestine Research and Studies (CPRS) in Nablus.

Since 1996, IRI has been engaged in supporting the emergence and development of democratic governance in the West Bank and Gaza. Polling is one mechanism to keep Palestinian officials and other decision makers informed about the attitudes and expectations of the Palestinian public.

A detailed copy of the survey's results, including an analysis, tables and methodology, can be accessed from IRI's Web site at http://www.iri.org

###

A nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing democracy worldwide