BEIT SAHOUR, West Bank /PNN/
A new public opinion poll has revealed deep divisions among Palestinians over the recent appointment of Hussein Al-Sheikh as Vice President of the State of Palestine, as well as over President Mahmoud Abbas’s latest speech at a key political gathering.
The poll, conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO) and led by Dr. Nabil Kukali, surveyed a representative sample of 912 Palestinians aged 18 and over in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The survey was carried out between 29 April and 14 May 2025.
Limited Support for Al-Sheikh Appointment
According to the findings, only 18.9% of respondents strongly supported the appointment of Hussein Al-Sheikh by the PLO Executive Committee as Vice President, while 12.8% expressed partial support. In contrast, 13.3% strongly opposed the decision, and 7.2% expressed partial opposition. A significant 31.6% chose to remain neutral, while 16.2% either declined to answer or had no opinion.
Regional differences were stark: 34% of Gaza respondents strongly supported the appointment, compared to just 8.9% in the West Bank. Meanwhile, strong opposition was higher in the West Bank at 16%, compared to 9.1% in Gaza.
Abbas Speech Draws Mixed Reactions
President Abbas’s address at the Palestinian Central Council on 23 April, in which he delivered sharp criticism of Hamas, drew varied responses. While 32.3% of respondents said the speech reflected a “necessary political realism,” 26.4% believed it harmed national unity, and 26.6% said the timing was inappropriate.
Support for the speech was far higher in Gaza, with 61.9% in favour, compared to only 12.9% in the West Bank. Conversely, 34.7% of West Bank respondents rejected the speech, compared to 13.8% in Gaza.
When asked whether the speech increased their trust in the Palestinian leadership, 33.7% answered yes, while 51% said no. Trust levels were significantly higher in Gaza (55.8%) than in the West Bank (19.1%).
Hamas Statement Also Polarising
Respondents were also asked about a statement attributed to Hamas, which described Al-Sheikh’s appointment as reinforcing “autocratic decision-making” and ignoring national priorities. The poll showed that 35.4% agreed with this assessment, while 40.6% opposed it. Some 24% declined to respond or expressed no opinion. Notably, 40.7% of Gazans strongly disagreed with Hamas’s characterisation, compared to just 15.5% in the West Bank.
Prisoner Exchange Proposal Garners Broad Support
A Hamas-proposed initiative, reportedly involving a mass prisoner exchange and a five-year truce in exchange for a withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war, received broad support. Some 45.5% of respondents said they strongly supported the proposal, and 20.3% supported it to some extent. Only 11.1% opposed it.
Support was significantly stronger in Gaza, where 69.1% said they strongly backed the deal, compared to 30% in the West Bank.
Political and Geographical Divide
Dr. Nabil Kukali said the results underscore a “clear political polarisation” between Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, along with a “notable trust gap in the Palestinian leadership.” He called for “a comprehensive national dialogue” to re-establish balanced representation that reflects the people’s aspirations.
Methodology
Dr. Elias Kukali, Head of Research at PCPO, said the data was collected using two methods: 76.6% of interviews were conducted face-to-face through the TAPI system, while 23.4% were conducted via phone using CATI. The margin of error is ±3.25% at a 95% confidence level.
The sample was comprised of 53% male and 47% female respondents, with an average age of 32.6 years. Geographically, 60.3% of participants were from the West Bank, and 39.7% from Gaza.
About the PCPO
Founded in Beit Sahour in 1994, the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion is one of the leading research institutions in the Palestinian territories. It conducts regular polling on political, economic, educational, health and social issues and is widely regarded as a credible source of data and analysis for policy and decision-makers.
