For what it’s worth, the AP reports:
A survey published Thursday by an independent Palestinian research center found that 75 percent of Palestinians would back new elections.
The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research conducted the poll during and after the Hamas military takeover of Gaza last week. It was conducted among 1,270 respondents in the West Bank and Gaza and had an error margin of 3 percent.
If new presidential elections were to be held, 49 percent would vote for Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Fatah movement, and 42 percent would vote for his political rival, deposed prime minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, the survey said.
If imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti were to run against Haniyeh, he would win 59 percent to Haniyeh’s 35 percent, the poll said. Barghouti is serving five life sentences in Hadarim Prison for murder and attempted murder. [Israeli] Cabinet minister Gideon Ezra recently called for Barghouti’s release as part of Israeli efforts to boost Abbas.
Update: From the same poll:
The greatest threat to Palestinians today is infighting and lack of law and order in the eyes of 56% followed by poverty in the eyes of 21%, Israeli occupation (12%) and international sanctions and boycott (10%).
No! I can just hear the “Palestinian Solidarity” people in the West protesting. Can’t you understand how wrong you are!
(Hat tip: Normblog.)
