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Click here to download the full Executive Summary of the Poll on the Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon May 2006 (PDF document,  18 pages, 239 KB)

On Saturday the 20th of May 2006, al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultations conducted a poll to survey the political views of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The aim was to compare and contrast the results of this poll with those of the Centre’s previous poll conducted last year, on 12-13th November, 2005. The following summary gives the main findings of this poll, and explains the circumstances and procedures under which it was conducted.

Al-Zaytouna Centre, is an independent centre located in Beirut, it conducts strategic and futuristic studies, with special emphasis on the Palestinian issue and the conflict with Israel. Upon conducting this poll, the Centre pursued the highest possible levels of objectivity and accuracy, and adopted the standard scientific methods. 

The poll and its outcome were supervised and edited by Dr. Mohsen Moh’d Saleh, assisted by two of his research assistants, Ziad Bhies and Ghina Jamal al-Din.

Major Findings

– Palestinians aged 18 and above: 10% are illiterate, 7.3% can read and write, 20.5% have completed primary education, and 8.1% are university graduates.

– The monthly income of 43.4% of the Palestinian families is less than 200$, while that of 36.7% of these families is less than 400$.

– 81.05% of the surveyed Palestinians are confident that they will eventually return to Palestine in one way or another.

– 98.3% of the respondents don’t see in compensation, resettlement and naturalization in Lebanon a solution for the problem of the Palestinian refugees, while 73.6% of the surveyed do not accept any option but returning to their hometowns.

– 72.2% of the surveyed consider the Palestinian weapons a source of protection for them; and 90.7% of the respondents endorse the idea of reconsidering the manner by which these weapons are dealt with and to control it.

– 54.3% of the surveyed expressed a conditional approval to the idea that the Lebanese authorities assume the responsibility of security in the Palestinian camps; 6.8% supported the direct implementation of this step, while 34.9% were categorically against it under any circumstances

– 28.5% of the respondents support Hamas, 25.8% support Fatah, while 4.8% support the Popular Front.

– Marwan al-Barghuthi is the top nominee for the Palestinian Presidency among the surveyed, followed by Khalid Mish’al.

– 83.1% support Hamas’ stand not to recognize Israel despite all pressure and constraints.


Click here to download the full
Executive Summary of the Poll on the Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon May 2006
(PDF document,  18 pages, 239 KB)