RAMALLAH, December 14, 2011 (WAFA) - An opinion poll conducted by the Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD) published on Wednesday showed that a total of 85% of Palestinians support holding presidential and parliamentary election in May.

The poll, which was conducted between November 22 and 24, said that Palestinians continue to place the highest importance on achieving national reconciliation with 96% stating that it is important or somewhat important.

Poll results indicated that about 44% of Palestinians support electing Abbas for president while 18% support Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

In parliamentary elections, Fatah would receive 46% support whereas Hamas would receive 17%.

In local elections a list of nationalists led by Fatah would receive about 43% whereas a list of Islamists led by Hamas would receive 17%.

According to AWRAD’s poll, if the elections were conducted today Fatah would receive 46%; 49% in the West Bank and 42% in Gaza, with about 17% for Hamas; 14% in the West Bank and 22% in Gaza.

In terms of political priorities, Palestinians continue to place the highest importance on achieving national reconciliation with 96% stating that it is important or somewhat important.

A majority of 79% believe that it is important or somewhat important to resort to non-violent means to end the occupation, while 64% feel the same way about the continuation of negotiations with Israel.

At the bottom of the list of priorities is support for armed attacks to end occupation with 43% stating that it was important or somewhat important.

The poll was conducted on a sample of 1200 people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and had a 3% margin of error.

T.R./M.S.