Opinion Poll about the Political Reflection of the Oslo Process on Palestinian Refugees (1999, West Bank and Gaza)

Do you consider that the international community has a comprehensive and clear plan for the solution of the Palestinian refugee question?
Yes             17.7%
No               82.3%

In your opinion, what was the reason for the postponement of the refugee question to the final status negotiations?
Complexity and Sensitivity                           19.6%
Israeli deal to terminate the issue                 60.6%
Specific circumstances of the negotiations
at that time (Oslo negotiations) did not give
priority to refugee issue                               15.5%
Other                                                           4.3%

Do you expect a solution of the refugee question through the final status negotiations?
Yes         30.4%
No           69.6%

Do you think that the peace process will lead to a just and lasting solution of the Palestinian refugee question?
Yes         15.0%
No           85.0%

What do you think will be the negotiated solution for the refugee question? (choose one option):
Return to the land of 1948  24.9%
Remain in camps              12.7%
Compensation                   46.7%
Resettlement                    13.2%
Other                                 2.5%

Do you think that UNRWA services to the camps after the Oslo Agreement
Decreased         89.0%
Improved            11.0%

(If your answer is “improved”, please move on to question 7)

What do you consider the main reason for the decrease of UNRWA services?
Shortage of international support of UNRWA               16.1%
Preparation of transfer of UNRWA tasks to PNA          20.8%
Political reasons (beginning of international withdrawal
From the refugee issue)                                             61.3%
Others                                                                       1.8%

Do you support a declaration of the Palestinian State prior to the solution of threfugee question?
Yes     42.8%
No       57.2%

Do you support the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in exchange for sacrificing the right of return?
Yes     9.2%
No     90.8%

If you were a refugee, would you support the right to:
Compensation                         24.1%
Return                                    72.5%
Acceptance of the status quo     3.4%

If compensation was agreed upon as the final solution, would you:
Accept it with conviction         10.7%
Accept it without conviction     32.8%
Try to make it fail                    51.4%
Others                                     5.1%

Prior to the final status negotiations, what is your demand to the Palestinian leadership in order to guarantee a just and lasting solution to the refugee issue (choose one option):
Cling to the international resolutions                 29.7%
Obtain partnership of the Arab states in the
Negotiations on the refugee question                  7.1%
Get refugee opinion on proposed solution          33.5%
Mobilize widely and strongly on the international
Level to form a lobby of pressure on Israel         23.9%
Other 5.8%

Poll Specifics:
Conducted by the PA Committee for Information Service, summer 1999;
Source: PA-State Information Service
Refugee participation in poll: 44.6% in West Bank; 89.9% in Gaza;
Number of questionnaires: 1080 (560-West Bank, 520-Gaza);

Notes:

• Relevant results of recent opinion polls among Palestinian refugees in Jordan are not available. The extensive FAFO study (1999) of Palestinian refugees in Jordan does, unfortunately, not include published data about refugee attitudes towards their historical rights and possible political solutions of the refugee question.