The widespread support is due to Israel’s daily attacks on Palestinian areas and the economic hardship Palestinians are currently experiencing, said the security officer. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are aware of the sympathy for their attacks on the Palestinian street, and will continue to perpetrate them despite the Palestinian Authority’s cease-fire order, he said.
Only a cease-fire that will also bring the population some gains and that is followed up by political measures will create an atmosphere in which such attacks by extremists will again be unpopular, he added. In the meantime, extremists will use public sentiment to justify continued attacks.
Hamas and Jihad have an interest in violating any cease-fire, since they know they would be rearrested once there is progress and a resumption of talks, he said.
The opinion poll also showed that 80 percent of the respondents do not believe that Israel’s most recent cease-fire is serious. However, 34 percent of those polled said they would support Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat if he calls for a cease-fire to resume negotiations.
According to the sample, nearly 76 percent support continuation of the violence.
However, 38 percent called upon both sides to halt the violence, and almost 37 percent still believe in the continuation of the peace process. Another 58 percent believe that peace between Israel and the Palestinians will never prevail.
About 32 percent expressed dissatisfaction with the Palestinian Authority, while 40 percent stated that they were slightly satisfied and 21 percent were highly satisfied. Some 30 percent said they would vote for Fatah in any general election, while Hamas received the support of 18 percent, less than 4 percent said they would support Islamic Jihad, and 11 percent indicated they would vote for an independent.