In the weeks since the start of Intifadat Al-Aqsa, a popular boycott of Israeli and American products has spread throughout the Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere in the Islamic world. But it seems that the one area where at least the Israeli part of the boycott gets lukewarm support is the Palestinian West Bank.
A recent poll of 526 Palestinian adults of the West Bank and East Jerusalem revealed that 13 percent of respondents are not in favor of any boycott of Israeli products, while 40 percent favor only a partial boycott. Some 44 percent were in favor of a full boycott, and three percent are noncommittal.
The survey was conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO), located at Beit Sahour in the West Bank. It was carried out by the organization’s president, Dr. Nabil Kukali. The margin of error stands on up to 3.5 percent.
But, as the poll also revealed, the Palestinians’ ambivalence about the boycott is not indicative of political sentiment, but is rather a result of the economic reality of the area in which they live. An important factor was the public’s perception of Palestinian-made consumer goods.
The PCPO survey showed that only 28 percent of the respondents fully trusted locally made products, whereas 53 percent only partially trust such products and 13 percent do not trust them at all. At the same time, 57 percent of respondents believed that Palestinian-made products are of a lower quality than their Israeli counterparts, while 25 percent felt that the two were of equal quality, and only eight percent believe that the quality of Palestinian-made merchandise is better.
Nonetheless, despite the unflattering opveness of Israel’s economic blockade of the territories, 39 percent of respondents stated that if Israel relaxed its stranglehold, it would serve to subdue the Intifada. However, 41 percent believed that the Intifada would continue unabated and 20 percent are noncommittal.
Asked about their economical prospects during the coming year, 52 percent of the respondents expect deterioration, while only 3.5 percent believe an improvement is in store. Some 8.5 percent expect things to stay the same, and an unexpectedly large 36 percent expressed no opinion
Of the Palestinians polled for the survey, 49 percent were females and 51 percent were males. The average age of the respondents was 31 years old. Some 49 percent of respondents were unemployed. ¯ (Albawaba-MEBG)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
