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Palestinians favor suicide attacks, not Arafat, new poll finds

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, August 27, 2002

RAMALLAH Ñ For the first time, a Palestinian majority has expressed support for the Islamic opposition to Yasser Arafat, a U.S.-backed opinion poll found.

In addition, a majority both opposed a ceasefire with Israel and favored the continuation of suicide bombing attacks.

More Palestinian respondents supported Islamic insurgency groups than the ruling Fatah movement. Fatah is led by Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, and until the latest poll has always topped the opposition.

The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research said Fatah's popularity has declined sharply over the past month, Middle East Newsline reported.

In a survey of 1,320 adults conducted from between Aug. 18 and 20, 26 percent of those polled supported Fatah.



In contrast, 27 percent of the respondents expressed support for Hamas and Islamic Jihad. This marked a two percent increase in support for the Islamic opposition groups since a survey in May.

The center has received funds from the State Department and other Western agencies to conduct opinion polls. The United States has called for reform within the PA and last week officials said Arafat rejected Washington's ideas for a restructuring of the regime.

The poll also reported a Palestinian majority for Hamas positions. They include the group's rejection of a Palestinian ceasefire with Israel and the continuation of suicide bombings. In all, 53 percent opposed a ceasefire and 52 percent supported suicide attacks against civilians.

Support for Arafat also was reported to have declined. Thirty four percent expressed support for Arafat and 84 percent called for reform of his regime. This includes 69 percent support for the appointment or election of a prime minister.

On Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres asserted that Arafat has been weakened. But Peres said the Palestinians can not come to any agreement without Arafat's approval.

In Gaza City, the PA has banned local and foreign news personnel from photographing and publishing pictures of children receiving military training. The ban includes photographs of children carrying weapons or dressed in military-style uniforms.

The ban came after Israeli and foreign journalists reported on PA and Hamas training of hundreds of children to join the Palestinian insurgency war against Israel.

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