What factors influence Palestinian pollsters?

A panoply of polling centers operate in Palestinian territories with the aim of monitoring economic and political issues. Although their survey results can be compelling, they can also be curious and sometimes corrupt.

Some of the many centers include the State Information Service, the Jerusalem Media and Communication Center, the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO), the Panorama Center for the Dissemination of Democracy and Community Development, the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) and the Center for Development Studies at the Birzeit University.

One recent poll of Palestinians showed that 67% of respondents support the use of knives in fighting against Israel, while 31% oppose it and 37% believe the current fighting will escalate into an armed intifada. The poll's findings, published Dec. 14 by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR) in Ramallah, also showed 18% of respondents believe the confrontations will evolve to widespread, peaceful popular confrontations, and 66% believe that, if the current fighting develops into an armed intifada, it will help achieve Palestinians’ rights in ways that negotiations do not. Meanwhile, 51% believe that if the current confrontations remain as they are now, they can also contribute to achieving Palestinian rights.

PCPSR researcher Jehad Harb told Al-Monitor, “Poll results are not as respected by Palestinian decision-makers as they are in Israeli and Western decision-making circles, although Palestinian polling centers have come to prove their seriousness and credibility and have gained expertise despite the fact that they still make mistakes. I do not think that foreign funding can affect the polls’ results, as polling centers enjoy transparency and publish their questions and results on their websites. Palestinians have become confident that these polls evaluate people’s opinions about topical issues.”