How Palestinians feel about election results: a public opinion poll

What would bring a people, the most secular of Arab populations with little history of religious fundamentalism, to vote Hamas?

The Jerusalem Media & Communication Centre (JMCC) has conducted a public opinion poll on Palestinian attitudes towards the results of the elections held on January 25, 2006.

1,200 people were surveyed throughout the West Bank (760 people) and the Strip of Gaza (440 people). Respondents surveyed from the Strip of Gaza came from in and around Gaza, Khan Younis, Rafah and deir al Balah. The average age of the respondents was 34 years and respondents included fishermen.

As a reminder, in the New Parliament, Hamas won 30 seats from national lists and 46 seats from election districts, i.e. 76 seats out of 132.

I've written below some of the results obtained from the poll in the Gaza Strip to get a feel of how Gazans approached the elections.

Number of respondents in the Gaza Strip= 440

Did the elections results meet your expections?

Met my expectations: 26.1
Somewhat met my expectations: 31.8
Did not meet my expectations: 40.9
No answer: 1.2

Given the elections results, to what extent you say that the elected members represent your point of view?

Represent my point of view: 32.7
Represent my point of view to a certain extent: 40.2
Do not represent my point of view: 24.8
No answer: 2.3

In general, how do you evaluate the performance of the previous Palestinian Legislative Council?

Very good: 3.2
Good: 20.7
Bad: 39.8
Very bad: 34.5
No answer: 1.8

What is the government structure you hope to see after the Palestinian Legislative Council elections?

National Coalition: 55.5
Hamas Government: 23.4
Technocrat Government: 16.1
No answer: 5.0

The Palestinian Authority is committed to the option of political negotiations with Israel. Do you believe that the new government headed by Hamas has to continue with the political negotiations, stop the political negotiations and should adopt other options?

To continue with the political negotiations: 63.2
Stop the political negotiations: 33.9
No answer: 2.9

If you voted for Hamas , why so?*This question was asked who said that they voted for Hamas

Religious Factors: 18.9
Hope to end the Corruption: 47.6
Hope to live in better living conditions: 7.9
For their political agenda: 11.0
To stop Fateh's control over the government: 5.3
Others: 3.5
No answer: 5.8

Regardless of whom you voted for, why do you think most People voted for them?

Religious Factors: 11.6
Hope to end the Corruption: 51.4
Hope to live in a better living conditions: 18.4
For their political agenda: 5.5
To stop Fateh's control over the government: 9.8
Others: 2.3
No answer: 1.0

International assistance

(Personal research work)

There are two main agencies which have provided assistance to the fisheries sector in the Strip of Gaza. These are the Danish International Development Agency, DANIDA, and CARE International, an international non governmental relief and development organisation.

DANIDA Gaza fisheries sector

DANIDA has provided support to the Gaza fisheries sector since 1996 via the Gaza fisheries project. The Gaza fisheries project lasted four years with a budget of DKK 19 million. It was followed by a consolidation phase, which started in 2000 and had a DKK 6 million budget. The consolidation phase which was meant to last 18 months was delayed due to the political situation. The consolidation phase is now closing with the construction of the Hauling Launching System slip way.

The objective of the DANIDA Gaza fisheries sector was to support the development of the fisheries sector in Gaza through the training and capacity enhancement of the Directorate of Fisheries with a focus on fisheries management, fisheries research and data collection, and general management and administration. Major activities of the project included: Assisting the Directorate of Fisheries in promoting cooperation with the Fishermen’s Association and Cooperative; Assisting Directorate of Fisheries staff in developing biological sampling and data collection; Facilitating the construction of a Hauling Launching System in the port of Gaza; Assisting Directorate of Fisheries in developing management skills, etc. Due to difficult situation, halted activities and closures, activities relating to data collection and inspection severely suffered during the project implementation and consolidation phase.

Following the outbreak of the Intifada (2000) which resulted in high poverty rates amongst fishermen’s households, DANIDA also started a fisherwomen’s Association project. The project was completed in 2004.

CARE International Gaza Fisheries Conservation and Development Project

CARE International implemented in collaboration with the American Near East Refugee Aid organization the Gaza Fisheries Conservation and Development Project during the period 1997 - 1999. The main components of the project funded by IFAD were:

• Strengthening the managerial capacity of the Fisherman’s Cooperative;
• Establishment of a savings fund for fisherman in Gaza;
• Provision of training to fisherman, cooperative staff and Ministry of Agriculture Staff in ways and means of conserving and developing the fishing sector in Gaza;
• Establishing women’s solidarity groups and assisting them to develop community-managed savings and loan facilities.
  

The project also included a sector review of fisheries in Gaza and a number of concept papers for the undertaking additional initiatives, including for the development of an artificial reef in Gaza to increase the productivity of fisheries.

International Management Group

The European Commission International Management Group has recently assessed the feasibility of rehabilitating the fishery shelter in Gaza (to make it a port) and the social impact the rehabilitation of the shelter would have on fishers. What is causing problem with the current shelter in Gaza is: i) its design - in its current state, the shelter is creating environmental problems with 650, 000 tonnes of sand coming in each year - and ii) fish catches decrease due to Israeli fishing restrictions (permitted fishing area: 10 nautical mile from coastline). Regarding catch decrease, Seamus Dunne from the International Management Group, recommends developing artificial reefs and mariculture. The report has been submitted to the European Commission for funding and to the Palestinian Authority for agreement.

Future assistance? This is currently THE question. What will be the relationship between the new leadership and the international community? Will the international donor community cut off aid?

Trade and Movement

(Personal research work)

Without trade the Gazan fisheries sector cannot develop.

The main commercial point for products in and out of Gaza is Karni (Almentar in Arabic) checkpoint. Export figures show that for one ‘Palestinian’ container out, four ‘Israeli’ containers come in – indicating a net transfer in favour of Israelis. Two months after the completion of unilateral Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip, an agreement was reached on 15 November 2005 between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Agreement set an export target of 150 truckloads a day by the end of 2005. OCHA reports that in December 2005, 48 truckloads of goods left from Gaza, a figure well below the export target set in the 15 November Agreement.

Major hindrances to fish exports are:

• the stringent checks truckloads have to go through at the Karni check point to meet Israeli security concerns which make it difficult to export fresh fish, a very perishable good;
• the back to back loading system, by which goods are unloaded from one truck and reloaded onto another truck at the checkpoint;
• the lack of market outside Israel. No fish marketing is allowed from Gaza to the West Bank and the Jordan markets – where there is a high demand for fish;

and also,

• the unavailability of fish inspectors at the check point outside regular office hours;
• the lack of equipment and modern storage facilities for importing and exporting fish.

Another impediment is that Israeli imports into Gaza have precedence over Palestinian exports out of Gaza. OCHA reports that 22 of the 31 import and export channels at Karni are either exclusively for Israeli imports or with Israeli priority where dual passage occurs. This is in breach of the Paris protocol agreement that affirms the equality of treatment for Palestinian and Israeli goods. Presently Israel exports 1,300 tonnes of frozen fish and 900 tonnes of fresh fish into Gaza a year – mostly species not consumed in Israeli markets due to local dietary practices. It is estimated that an additional 800 tonnes of high value fish not accounted for in Palestinian statistics are sold a year to Israeli merchants waiting at some 10-15 kms off the coast of Gaza with the blessing of the IDF (Israeli Defence Force).

Trading fish by air is not an option, as air traffic out of Gaza is prohibited. By sea? Access to Gaza by sea is denied. As for the sea port in the Gaza Strip, its future is still uncertain. The 15 November Agreement stated that the construction of a seaport can commence but is not expected to be operational within two years. The importance of a port at Gaza to the Palestinian economy was agreed on by both sides at Oslo, as being necessary for the development of free foreign trade with other countries in the world. The work which began in August 2000, with European donors’ funds, was stopped after the outbreak of the Al Aqsa Intifada in October of that year because of the political and military situation. Now the sea port, better described as a shelter, needs rehabilitation. It is silting over with 650,000 tonnes of sand coming in each year. Seamus Dunne, Senior Social Development Officer for the International Management Group, a body working with the European Commission (DG Development) says a rehabilitated sea port would offer: better security (at the moment there are a lot of accidents walking to boats); better equipment and modern storage facilities for importing and exporting fish (provided that Israeli restrictions on trade are lifted), and; an additional 9 kms to fish. (to be continued)