Palestinian Refugees and the Negotiations for Permanent Status
Source: Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information
Survey Report,
August 2001
Introduction
During the past year, IPCRI conducted 48 Town
Meetings in nine refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza aimed at involving
the refugee population more in the discussions concerning their own future.
A report of those meetings can be found at http://www.ipcri.org/index1.html .
That report aims at presenting the
findings of IPCRI staff as heard directly from the
refugees who participated in the meetings.
At the conclusion of the two meetings,
we conducted a public opinion poll amongst Palestinian
refugees. This report deals with the opinions of
Palestinian refugees and their views of issues regarding
the right of return and negotiating the refugee issue.
Process
Population:
The study included refugees from 1948
and displaced people from 1967. The sample included
Palestinians distributed in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank throughout 16 locations in camps, villages,
towns and cities. A random sample of 1,830 was picked,
from which 183 were dropped due to irregularities.
Methods:
Trained researchers
distributed surveys consisting of two forms, the
first includes demographic information, the second
contained the survey questions with multiple choice
answers.
Population Totals:
The study was conducted
in the following locations:
City Surveys:
Ramallah 32
Ein Arik (1) 20
Birzeit (2) 8
Nablus 16
Qataneh (3) 50
Gaza 11
Doha (4) 15
Tulkarm 180
Fara'a 90
Ama'ari 95
Qalandia 140
Aroob 135
Jabalia 298
Nuseirat 275
Khan Yunes 235
Shu'fat 47
(1) 8 km West of Ramallah
(2) Center for 45 refugee families
(3) 14 km northwest of Jerusalem. Registered refugees, owners of confiscated
properties
(4) South of Beit Jala
Random Sample Selection:
- A total of 1,830 samples were picked at random,
collected as follows:
- The study areas were divided into sectors, 4
in Gaza Strip and 12 in the West Bank.
- A total of 34 field researchers (who are residents
of the area) were recruited and trained.
The sectors were divided into sub sectors and houses were selected at random
from each sub sector. On person was interviewed from each 6th house. As for
larger urban areas, assistance was located from UNRWA and local residents
to determine target groups.
- Detailed demographic information is retained
about each participant's household.
- Additional effort was spent in follow-up to
collect late surveys and to insure surveys are
accurate and complete.
Difficulties encountered while collecting the surveys
include:
- In light of the charged political environment,
some of the participants refused to answer some
of the questions.
- Many participants felt that political decision
makers never consider their opinions, thus, thought
the effort was useless.
- The study included several social classes; the
field researchers found it particularly difficult
to survey the elderly and the illiterate.
- Some of the surveys were never returned, some
required additional efforts to collect.
- Some of the participants were harassed by bystanders
who thought that participation of such survey indicated
willingness to compromise
(figures are in percentages)
International legitimacy should be the basis for negotiating the refugee problem
78.3 Strongly agree
21.6 Agree
0.0 Disagree
0.0 Strongly Disagree
0.2 No opinion
International resolutions should be
applied in resolving the Palestinian refugee problem,
including UN Resolution 194.
67.5 Strongly agree
28.7 Agree
0.0 Disagree
0.0 Strongly Disagree
3.8 No opinion
The refugee problem is the core of
the Palestinian problem
89.0 Strongly agree
10.9 Agree
0.0 Disagree
0.0 Strongly Disagree
0.1 No opinion
Lasting peace in the Middle East is
tied to the return of the refugees to their homes
86.8 Strongly agree
11.8 Agree
0.0 Disagree
0.0 Strongly Disagree
1.3 No opinion
Compensation is not an alternative
to return
81.5 Strongly agree
17.2 Agree
0.0 Disagree
0.0 Strongly Disagree
1.3 No opinion
Family reunification can be considered return
0.3 Strongly agree
4.8 Agree
26.1 Disagree
67.8 Strongly Disagree
1.0 No opinion
Return must be to exact places of
original residence
90.9 Strongly agree
8.9 Agree
0.0 Disagree
0.0 Strongly Disagree
0.2 No opinion
Return means going back to the 1948
territories, not to PA controlled territories
90.8 Strongly agree
9.2 Agree
0.0 Disagree
0.0 Strongly Disagree
0.0 No opinion
Palestinian negotiators are capable
of dealing with Israeli negotiators about the right
of return
6.3 Strongly agree
12.6 Agree
52.9 Disagree
25.9 Strongly Disagree
2.3 No opinion
Israeli negotiators will stick to
their positions about the refugees (meaning no return)
even if it hinders reaching other agreements
85.9 Strongly agree
11.1 Agree
0.4 Disagree
0.1 Strongly Disagree
2.6 No opinion
Palestinian refugees will insist on
their right of return regardless of where they are
presently residing
84.8 Strongly agree
13.4 Agree
0.0 Disagree
0.0 Strongly Disagree
1.9 No opinion
Palestinian refugees will refuse resettlement
where they currently reside
80.3 Strongly agree
18.9 Agree
0.2 Disagree
0.0 Strongly Disagree
0.6 No opinion
The right of return means:
2.9 Return to areas controlled by the PA
97.1 Return to original home towns
In the event that the refugees are
given an opportunity to return, you will:
96.7 Return to your original home town
0.2 Will not return to your original home town
3.2 Don't know
If given the right to return to original
hometown, would you accept living under Israeli sovereignty
and citizenship
85.2 Yes
11.7 No
3.1 Don't Know
In your opinions, does the PLO have
the right to concede on the right of return?
1.5 Yes
96.5 No
1.9 Don't Know
If given the following choices, which
will you choose?
68.9 Return without compensation
2.4 A package combining compensation without return, family reunification and
settling in PA areas.
3.6 Resettlement
23.7 There will be no solution
1.3 Don't know
What is your posit ion -as a refugee-
should an unsatisfactory solution is reached?
0.9 Giving in to reality
1.7 Objecting and disputing the agreement
30.5 Finding other means to express rejection
64.5 Confrontations using force
2.4 Don't know
Do you support or object to the following phrase: "It
is not possible to accept a peace agreement which
does not include the right of the Palestinian refugees
to return to their native homelands".
97.4 I support
0.0 I object
2.6 I don't know
If it is mandated that compensation
be provided as an alternative to return, you will
accept
3.3 Individual compensation for each refugee
0.9 Collective compensation for the Palestinian State
93.1 Will not accept any compensation
2.8 Don't Know
IPCRI, founded in Jerusalem in 1988,
is the only joint Palestinian-Israeli public policy
think-tank in the world. It is devoted to developing
practical solutions for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
P.O. Box 9321, Jerusalem 91092
Temporary Office: Tantur
Telephone: 972-2-676-9460 Fax: 972-2-676-8011
Email: ipcri@ipcri.org
Gershon Baskin: gershon@ipcri.org
Zakaria al Qaq: law@ipcri.org
Peace Education Program: peace_education@ipcri.org
IPCRI's Environment and Water Program: environment@ipcri.org
Home Page: http://www.ipcri.org/index1.html |