A public opinion poll shows that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would lose to the leader of the Islamist Hamas if Palestinian elections were held today.
The survey, conducted by prominent pollster Khalil Shikaki and released Tuesday, shows that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh would win with 49% of the vote to Abbas' 42%.
Against the backdrop of weekly Palestinian riots near the Gaza border with Israel, Shikaki attributes the results of the poll to Hamas' perceived victory in its latest confrontation with Israel, coupled with the Palestinians' dissatisfaction with Abbas' government, particularly over a new social security law.
The social security measure was enacted on Nov. 1 and has been the subject of popular protests. Many Palestinians feel that it is skewed in favor of the wealthy, as payments are only mandatory for lower-earning employees. Critics of the measure cannot agree whether it should be entirely reversed or modified.
The poll interviewed 1,200 people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and had a 3% margin of error.
Abbas' Fatah faction and Hamas are bitter rivals. Palestinian elections were last held in 2006 and have been repeatedly delayed since.
