Poll: 54% of Palestinians support two-state solution

29% of surveyed say would support third intifada. AWRAD public opinion poll was published on Monday.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Palestinian flags waving in West Bank 370 (photo credit: Reuters)
Palestinian flags waving in West Bank 370
(photo credit: Reuters)
More than half of Palestinians support a two-state solution, according to a public opinion poll published on Monday.
The poll, conducted by the Arab World For Research & Development, covered 1,200 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It was conducted between October 20 and 22 and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
AWRAD describes itself as an independent research center that specializes in political and economic research and development through rigorous policy and applied research.
The poll showed that while a majority of Palestinians supports the present round of negotiations with Israel, a similar number of respondents (54 percent) believe the process will not yield positive results.
Furthermore, 57% of respondents said they were less hopeful for the peace process than the previous year, while an additional 57% believe that the Palestinians are further away from achieving a state.
Nevertheless, a majority of 54% of respondents continue to support the two-state solution, the survey found.
Support for the two-state solution is greater in the West Bank (56%) compared to 50% in the Gaza Strip, according to the poll.
The poll also showed that 58% of Palestinians support non-violent means “to end the occupation” as opposed to 47% of Gaza respondents who believe that armed resistance is the best method to achieve independence.
But while a majority of 60% believe a third intifada is possible in the near future, only 29% said they would support such a development, the poll showed.