Press Release: 14 January 2006 Legislative Council Elections

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http://home.birzeit.edu/dsp/opinionpolls/poll24/

First: Headlines

· 90% support holding legislative elections on time;

· Fateh and Hamas are in a tight race for PLC seats;

· 97% are against kidnapping of internationals.

Second: Main Results:

Two weeks before the elections: Fateh 35%, Hamas 30%, undecided 21%, and the list of Independent Palestine 6%.

About 30% of the floating vote (undecided) favors Hamas; 24% bents towards Fateh, and 10% with inclinations towards the independent lists.

Among the registered for the elections, 83% expressed their will to vote.

Among the respondents, 65% believe that the elections will be fair.

Among the respondents, 45% considered TV as the best means to acquire information on elections, whereas 26% considered public meetings and workshops and 13% of the respondents considered radio as the best means on acquiring information on elections.

The poll reveals that 35% of potential voters have access to computers and 24% use the Internet.

Among the respondents, 90% support holding legislative elections on time (January 25, 2006).

Over 97% of Palestinians oppose kidnapping of internationals in Palestinian Territories.

A high percentage of respondents (96%) opposes the protest means of erecting roadblocks by militants within cities

Likewise, 92% of the respondents oppose armed parades organized by militant groups

In general, 97% oppose the use of any form of violence to resolve disputes.

In contrast, 95% support the use of peaceful, organized demonstrations and/or marches

Finally, 98% feel that the current lawlessness harms the Palestinians and their cause.

Third: Analysis of Results

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