"Most Palestinians continue to distrust the US and view it as anti-Palestinian and biased in favor of Israel"
The Israeli quip is no joke to some 74 percent of PA residents who told the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR), an independent pollster and think tank based in Ramallah, that Abbas should resign. His job approval rating is a mere 27 percent.
The survey released two weeks ago also shows that 71 percent of West Bankers and 62 percent of Gaza Strip residents say they are not free to criticize the PA and Hamas without fear of retaliation.
They seemingly had no fear in this survey, which prompted me to contact the PSR director in Ramallah, Dr. Khalil Shikaki, to ask how he earns the trust of his respondents, considering the risks.
“Our surveys are conducted face to face and the respondents are assured of total anonymity and confidentiality,” Dr. Shikaki explained. “The mission of our interviewers is to convince respondents that expressing their views openly [to us] is like whispering in our ears.”
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