Development Studies Programme
Tel: (972)-2-2959250 Fax: (972)-2-2958117 Ramallah P.O.Box 1878
Homepage: http://home.birzeit.edu/dsp
e-mail:
dsp@birzeit.edu
JUST RELEASED
Poll # 19: An Opinion Poll Concerning Living Conditions, Emigration, the
Palestinian Government,
Security Conditions and Reform
Date of Publication: 05 October, 2004
Field Research: 9-11September, 2004
The Results
1. Living Conditions: Economic conditions in the Palestinian Territories
continue to deteriorate.
- The income of 42% of Palestinian households in the poll was less than $160
a month, and of these 8% had no source of income at all.
- In general, 78% of Palestinian households in the poll reported an income
less than $385 a month. The results indicate that the economic situation is
worse in Gaza, with the percentage reaching 89% for households in the Gaza
Strip and 71% for those in the West Bank.
- 38% of the respondents described the economic conditions in their
households as bad or very bad, 44% described them as average and 19% as good
or very good.
2. Migration: Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza seek permanent
or temporary opportunities abroad as a result of deteriorating conditions.
- 5% of polled households declared a member of their household had left the
Palestinian Territories as permanent migrants during the period of the
second Intifada.
- 11% declared that a member of their household had left the Palestinian
Territories for work or study purposes during the years of the Intifada.
- A solid majority of those polled, 82%, declared that they would not leave
the Palestinian Territories for permanent residence abroad, even if they
were given the opportunity to do so. Yet 37% declared that they have the
desire to leave temporarily for work and/or study outside the Palestinian
Territories.
- The results indicate that those polled in the Gaza Strip demonstrated a
higher readiness for permanent or temporary emigration than those polled in
the West Bank.
- The desire for permanent emigration is highest among youth ages 18-27
(25%) and men are more willing to emigrate (24%), compared with women (12%).
3. Education: High satisfaction with performance of educational
institutions, but concern about high costs
3-1: Assessment of Palestinian Education
- 52% of those polled expressed their satisfaction as to the educational
process in Palestine, 29% said they are somewhat satisfied, while 18%
expressed dissatisfaction.
- 58% of those polled believed that schools in Palestine perform the role
required of them, and 59% of those polled said that Palestinian universities
also perform the role required of them.
- 56% of those polled declared that they have some knowledge about school
curricula, while only 49% of those who have some knowledge considered them
to be good curricula.
- 70% of those polled believed that education in Palestine is developing in
a good manner.
3-2: Material Resources and Education
- 55% of those polled declared that their households are unable financially
to provide for the appropriate education needed for their children.
- 62% of those polled agreed to the following opinion: "The costs of school
education are heavy for their households".
- 74% of those polled supported the same opinion regarding university
education.
3-3: Attitudes Regarding the Educational Process
- 93% of the Palestinian households polled considered education to be a main
priority for their households.
- 72% of them expressed their agreement to the directives issued by the
Ministry of Education and Higher Education prohibiting corporal punishment
in schools.
- 66% agreed to the following opinion: "Had I the material capability, I
would have sent my children to private schools".
- 77% considered university education to be expensive.
- 78% of those polled disagreed with the opinion that schooling for boys is
preferred over schooling for girls.
- 54% of those polled declared they do not desire to educate their children
in universities outside Palestine.
4. Performance of the Palestinian Government:
Negative Public Evaluation
The general attitude of those polled regarding Mr. Ahmad Qurei and his
government was generally negative, with respondents citing major
shortcomings on a number of issues. They also indicated that the government
has limited powers, and expressed their aspiration to have changes among
government members and senior officials at the helm of government
authorities.
- 40% of those polled evaluated the performance of Palestinian Prime
Minister Ahmad Qurei as poor, representing a tangible increase in
dissatisfaction (of about 7%) compared to those who evaluated his
performance three months earlier in the June 7th, 2004 poll. In this round,
24% of those polled evaluated his performance as average, and 20% evaluated
it as good.
- 47% of those polled evaluated the performance of the current government as
poor (compared to 36% three months earlier, which means an increase in
negative evaluation of 11%), 24% evaluated it as average, and 16% evaluated
it to be good.
- When specific issues were raised, the results reflected an additional drop
in the evaluation of the Palestinian public as to government performance,
with the majority of those polled evaluating such performance to be poor.
- A government with no powers: About 55% of those polled believed that the
current government does not have sufficient powers to solve the above
problems, while 19% believed that it has sufficient powers to do so.
- The need to introduce changes in senior posts in the PNA: The majority of
the Palestinian public (71%) believed there is a need to carry out changes
in ministerial positions and among those at the helm of main government
authorities.
- The PA is not serious in its anti-corruption measures: 68% of those polled
believed that the PA is not doing all it could do to address the problem of
corruption in its institutions.
5. Priorities
- The poll indicated that the main priority for the current government
should be "improving the economic situation", as declared by 35% of those
polled, followed by 18% "providing internal security", and 8% for "reducing
unemployment". The results also pointed to other priorities.
6. Palestinian Internal Conditions: Lack of
Security and Demands for Reform
6-1: Attitudes of the Palestinian public on recent calls for reform: High
support among the Palestinian public for demands for reform, despite
suspicions as to how sincere the advocates may be.
- Wide-scale popular support for demands for reform: 72% of those polled
support the calls for reform, launched by persons from the ranks of the PA,
while 21% of those polled rejected these calls. Support for these demands
increased in the Gaza Strip to reach 80%, compared to 72% in the West Bank.
- Concern as to the sincerity of such positions coming from personalities
and forces from the ranks of the PA. The views of the Palestinian public are
divided as to how serious the advocates of reform from inside the ranks of
the PA are, as 38% of those polled believed in the sincerity of these calls,
while 40% did not believe in their sincerity, and 22% did not express an
opinion.
- 57% of those polled stated that the real motive behind the calls for
reform launched from among the ranks of the PA reflect their personal
interests, while 27% of those polled believed that these demands were in the
service of the public good.
- The PA is not serious in its measures to introduce reforms: 52% of those
polled said the PA is not serious in its reforms, while 37% believed
otherwise.
- Within the same context, 40% of those polled believed that President
Arafat is serious in the commitment he made before the PLC in August 2004 to
implement comprehensive reforms, while 27% believed he was somewhat sincere,
and 28% believed he was not sincere.
6-2 The
attitudes of the Palestinian public towards the methods used to express the
demands for reform: The majority of the Palestinian public opposed
any resort to force to express demands or protests, and expressed the
greatest opposition to any attempts to kidnap foreigners. On the other hand,
peaceful demonstrations were the most acceptable method of protest. Those
polled expressed their concerns over the dangers of resorting to force as an
expression of differences within Palestinian society.
- The highest opposition was expressed to any form of injury to foreigners
in Palestinian territories, with 85% opposing the kidnapping of foreigners
working in Palestinian territories.
- 82% of those polled regarded the kidnapping of Palestinians close to PA
circles to be an unacceptable method.
- 80% of those polled opposed any harm to public property or PA offices.
- 77% of those polled opposed armed demonstrations as a method of protest.
- The greatest support (90%) was for peaceful demonstrations as a method
acceptable to express the demands for reforms.
- The majority of the Palestinian public believed that recent events pointed
to internal strife: 68% of those polled said that recent inter-Palestinian
events point to internal strife, while 27% believed these events can not be
regarded as an indication of potential internal strife.
7. The Peace Process: Increased Support for
Negotiations with Israel
Substantial increase in the rate of support for resumption of negotiations
with Israel: The majority of those polled (63%) supported the resumption of
negotiations, while 34% opposed it. It should be noted that there is a
substantial increase in the percentage of those supporting the resumption of
negotiations with Israel, compared to 45% of those polled in June 2004.
** For more details, please see Poll # 19 at:
http://home.birzeit.edu/dsp/opinionpolls/poll19/
Or contact Dr. Nader Said , Director, mobile # 059-204527, Mr. Ayman
Abdelmajeed, Research coordinator at the listed numbers
Palestinian Intifada - 4th
Anniversary
SUMMARY OF PRESS CONFERENCE
The second Intifada, now entering its 5th year, has seen the World
distracted by events in Iraq enabling Israel to continue violating
Palestinians’ Human Rights with complete immunity. The International media
remains more accessible to the Israeli side and thus allows Israel to push
forward their preferred narrative. Furthermore, these past years have
witnessed a significant deterioration in international support and
involvement with the peace process, many becoming disheartened and reluctant
having supported the now dead Oslo Peace Process. However, the Intifada has
also witnessed the emergence of a new democratic opposition movement, born
within the Palestinian Territories, together with a consolidation in support
for pioneering, modern Palestinian leaders.
In the years since 1948, the Palestinians have witnessed a consistent
decrease in their promised State - now just 11% of historic Palestine (as
according to Sharon’s plan). What we are looking at now is not a future
Palestinian State, but a series of Bantustans.
Death and Injury
In the four years since Sharon’s famous visit to the Haram Al Sharif we have
seen 4,342 Palestinians and Israelis killed. Of those 1,008 were Israeli and
3,334 Palestinian. 82% of Palestinians killed were civilians.
Two to three Palestinians are killed by Israeli soldiers, police or settlers
per day. Whilst this number may appear to be low, if this death rate were to
be applied to the UK it would be equivalent to 35 being killed per day, and
in the US this would be 157 per day.
Since the start of the Intifada on the 28th of September 2000, 621
Palestinian children below the age of 17 have been killed by the Israeli
occupation forces. Of this figure 411 were shot with live ammunition and 200
were shot in the head, face or neck. 331 were from the Gaza Strip. 10,000
Palestinian children have been injured. Dr Barghouthi insisted that there is
absolutely no excuse to justify the killing of such a huge number of
children. What is equally disturbing is the telling figures of injuries
received to the head – Israeli forces were obviously shooting to kill. In
fact the majority of Palestinians killed have suffered injuries to the head
and upper body.
424 Palestinians have died in extra judicial executions (assassinations).
186 of those were bystanders or “unintended” victims, killed as they were
near the victim. 39 bystanders were children 26 were women. With regards to
extra judicial assassinations, in Gaza whilst 72 Palestinians died in
targeted killings, a shocking 118 bystanders were additionally killed in
these attacks.
Palestinian Prisoners
Israel continues to make use of an old emergency law that dates back to the
British Mandate. This Law allows Israel to arrest and detain anyone for an
unlimited time without charging them. There are currently 78 Palestinian
children in administrative detention.
There are also currently 100 Palestinian women and 377 children in Israeli
prisons. 80% of the children are routinely tortured or harassed and 31%
suffer from disease.
Health
30% of Palestinian children suffer from chronic malnutrition. The number of
pregnant women unable to receive any medical attention during their
pregnancy is now five times higher than figures before September 2000.
Economy
More than one billion dollars worth of Palestinian infrastructure has been
destroyed by Israeli forces and more than 200 million dollars of this has
been donor financed. Since the start of the Intifada the Palestinian GDP has
decreased by 50% and agricultural losses have amounted to more than one
million dollars.
Education
Israeli forces have shelled or broken into 298 Palestinian schools. 4
young children were shot in the head in UNRWA run schools in Gaza, in 2004
alone.
Water & the Evolution of Apartheid
Since September 2000, the price of water in the Palestinian Territories has
increased from $2.5 per cubic meter to $7.5 per cubic meter. And only a
shocking 70 litres per person per day is consumed in the West Bank for
domestic, urban AND industrial use. 200 Palestinian communities have no
access to a clean water supply.
In the Gaza Strip we can no longer forecast a disaster because it has
already begun. There is no water supply in Gaza that is fit for drinking.
Every Israeli citizen consumes five times more water than the Palestinians.
Illegal settlers living in the West Bank consume twenty times more water
than the Palestinians living there.
Movement Restrictions
There are currently 703 movement restrictions in the West Bank alone. As an
example of the effects on Palestinian everyday life that this has caused,
whilst a journey from Ramallah to Hebron should take around one hour, it has
taken up to twelve hours for many Palestinians.
86 Palestinians have already died because of movement restrictions, and this
figure includes 30 children. Had these people been allowed to travel, they
would have probably survived. In addition at least 55 women have been forced
to give birth at checkpoints with 20 losing their children.
The Wall
The Wall is three times as long and twice as high as the Berlin Wall. In
Qalqilia 40,000 residents are imprisoned within the Wall in what can only be
described as a ghetto. As well as those imprisoned inside the wall the
residents of surrounding villages now placed on the western (Israeli) side
of the wall have been cut of entirely from schools, jobs, healthcare and
family. Many in fact have lost all access to the outside world is controlled
by 11 Israeli manned gates which are collectively only opened for a total of
55 minutes per day. Anyone who wishes to enter or leave Qalqilia must have
special permission – even patients and medical services. Qalqilia residents
claim that they can no longer see the sunset.
Whilst there is talk about adjustments to the Wall’s route, there are in
fact no changes other than mere cosmetic alterations. What we are witnessing
is not just the building of the Wall it is the destruction of a two state
solution.
Disengagement in Gaza and the Road Map to Peace Sharon only accepted the
Road Map as it was approved by the Israeli Cabinet and this was with 15
reservations, the first being a refusal to freeze any settlement building.
At the same time whilst Sharon talks about removing settlements in the West
Bank, he is referring to 4 that exist in the north of the West Bank, that
exist on land that can not be enclaved by the Wall. The other existing
settlements will of course remain because they exist on land that Israel
plans to appropriate through the Wall and enclaves.
Unfortunately, with regards to Sharon’s Gaza Plan most of the World’s media
mistakenly continues to refer to it as a “withdrawal”. In fact Sharon never
referred to a “withdrawal”, what he actually said was that they would
redeploy from Gaza but the military would still enter at any time they
deemed appropriate. In Rafah the Israeli forces are destroying on average 6
houses per day in order to clear a passage separating Gaza from Egypt, which
will grant them full border control. So far 2200 homes have been demolished
in this area alone.
Periods of “Relative Calm?
During this last year of the Intifada, there has been a serious rise in mass
popular support for non-violent resistance. This is why suicide attacks
against Israel have significantly depleted, not because of the Wall.
However, this has certainly not encouraged Israeli forces to stop attacking
Palestinians.
Between March 15 and August 31, 2004, the International media talked of a
period of “relative calm” purely because there were no suicide attacks
against Israel. However, the following days of March saw 45 Palestinians
dead with no Israeli casualties; April saw 56 Palestinians dead compared to
3 Israelis; and May saw 116 Palestinians dead (the majority during Israel’s
“Operation Rainbow” in Rafah) compared to 19 Israelis. It must be noted that
of the total Israelis killed, 18 were Soldiers, 10 were illegal settlers and
only 3 were civilians. This means that during a period of practical cease
fire on the part of the Palestinians Israel continued to kill civilians at a
rate of 12:1. If Sharon was at all serious about wanting a peaceful
solution, genuine advantage could have been taken during this period of
quiet, instead he proceeded to kill more Palestinians than at any other time
since the beginning of the Intifada other than the 2002 invasions.
Palestinian Elections and future Democracy?
Israeli forces have closed six election registration offices in Jerusalem as
well as others across the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Dr Barghouthi stressed
that this is totally unacceptable and if the Palestinians are to achieve
reform through democratic process, then the International community must do
more than condemn these recent actions, they must demand that Israel reopens
the offices. Democracy he insisted is a precondition not only for reform but
also for lasting peace, a peace based on justice.
Dr Barghouthi concluded the press conference by declaring that
unfortunately, he was almost 100% sure he would be greeting the same
audience at a press conference to mark the fifth anniversary of the Intifada.
As of yet, there has been no reason for the Palestinians to stop resisting –
“either we live as slaves under an occupation or we continue to struggle for
freedom”, and the latter he insisted is the path that will be taken.
NOTE: all statistics are based on information available at the time of
calculation.
Should you require further detailed breakdown please contact
charlie@hdip.org
The Palestine Monitor
+972 (0)2 298 5372 or +972 (0) 59254218
Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA)
Special report on Palestinian Intifada - 4th Anniversary
In September 2003, the Or Commission of
inquiry presented its conclusions concerning the various factors that, in
its opinion, led to the outbreak of the events of October 2000, in which
twelve Palestinian Arab citizens and one laborers from Gaza were killed by
the police during demonstrations and protests inside Israel. Among its
conclusions and recommendations, the Commission discussed the attitude and
behavior of the police toward the Palestinian Arab minority in Israel, both
during the course of the October Events and in the preceding period. On this
point, the Commission recommended as follows:
“It is important to inculcate, at all levels of the police, the importance
of considered and moderate behavior in relations with the Arab sector.
Within this brief, it is important to act in order to uproot phenomena of
negative prejudices that have been found regarding the Arab sector, even
among veteran and esteemed police officers. The police must inculcate among
its personnel the understanding that the Arab public as a whole is not their
enemy, and that it is not to be treated as the enemy.”
The Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA)’s newest report entitled: “Four
Years On – Cases of Police Brutality against Palestinian Arab Citizens of
Israel during the Year Following the Or Commission Report on the October
2000 Events” aims to assess whether or not the police have implemented the
recommendations of the Or Commission relating to the approach and conduct of
the police forces toward Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel.
The report describes in detail four separate cases, out of ten cases
documented by the HRA in which Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel were
beaten and abused by the police. The details presented in these cases reveal
the use of excessive force by police officers, without need and in
situations in which no person was in any danger, let alone mortal danger. In
one of the cases, the use of excessive force was not confined to beatings
and blows, but developed into the use of live ammunition against unarmed
civilians who were not endangering the lives of the police personnel or of
any other person. The use of live ammunition resulted in one of the victims
being shot in the leg. In all of these cases, physical violence was
accompanied by verbal violence, and the comments made by the police officers
involved reflect racist attitudes toward the Palestinian Arab minority. This
verbal violence and the attitudes it reflects reveal the motivation for the
behavior of the police officers.
It thus appears that the Israel Police have failed to internalize or to
apply the lessons of the October 2000 events and the recommendations of the
Or Commission with appropriate vigilance, given the importance of this
matter and its ramifications in terms of the relations between the Jewish
majority and the Palestinian Arab minority in Israel in general, and between
the Palestinian Arab citizens and the police, in particular. It may even be
stated that the attitude of the police toward the Palestinian Arab minority
has not only failed to improve, but has become still more racist, hostile
and aggressive. The HRA is profoundly concerned by this situation, and urges
the relevant authorities to internalize the lessons of the events of October
2000 and to implement the recommendations of the Or Commission relating to
the behavior and attitude of the police forces toward the Palestinian Arab
minority in Israel.
The report “Four Years On” is available in English, Arabic and Hebrew on our
website at www.arabhra.org The website
also provides further information about the HRA and our ongoing projects. We
hope that this report will be useful to your work and that you will continue
to draw on our reports in the future as resources for well-researched
information on the human-rights situation of Palestinian Arabs inside
Israel. We also welcome any comments or questions that you might have
concerning the report or the HRA’s activities in general.
Best regards,
Muhammad Zeidan
Executive Director
Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA)