Public Opinion Survey on Corruption in Palestine, 2022

-        From the report: "Coalition for integrity and accountability (AMAN)" "2022 Public Opinion Survey on: The Reality of Corruption and Its Combat in Palestine for 2022, Ramallah - Palestine"

-        The report's results indicated that the five main problems that the surveyed Palestinian citizens believe should be prioritized for treatment are, in descending order and percentages, as follows:

1-    Economic issues at 27.5% in Palestine: (28.7% in the West Bank and Jerusalem, 25.7% in the Gaza Strip)

2-    The spread of corruption, at 25.1% in Palestine (31.1% in the West Bank and Jerusalem, 16.2% in the Gaza Strip..!)

3-    The occupation, at 20.7% in Palestine (22.3% in the West Bank including Jerusalem, 18.3% in the Gaza Strip)

4-    Weak rule of law, 11.1% in Palestine (10.9% in the West Bank including Jerusalem, 11.3% in the Gaza Strip)*

5-    Continued division, 10.5% in Palestine (4.8% in the West Bank including Jerusalem, 19% in the Gaza Strip)

-        It was noted that the Israeli occupation and its policies ranked third in the priority of challenges that need to be addressed according to the surveyed Palestinian public! ...after the economic situation took first place in the challenges in Palestine, followed by the spread of corruption in second place...!

-        It was observed that the division only obtained the last place (fifth) among the challenges for the Palestinian public..especially in the West Bank, where the percentage is low in prioritizing the division, while in the Gaza Strip the percentage was relatively higher (19%)...compared to the West Bank including Jerusalem (4.8%)..!

-        The results of this questionnaire are alarming and call for attention: the economy and the spread of corruption dominate people's concerns far more than the challenges of Israeli occupation policies and practices...What increases the concern is the extent of the Palestinian public's attention in the West Bank including Jerusalem to the division and its challenges, which has declined noticeably to the point that interest is nearly disappearing...and this is an ill omen...!

-        People's concern with poverty and the prevailing economic conditions of rising prices and unemployment is regarded as a main challenge and took first place. This means for politicians that the primary problem for citizens is not the occupation as much as the economic situation and people's daily livelihood needs..so much so that the spread of corruption has surpassed the challenge of the occupation and the challenge of corruption took second place in the priorities of the surveyed citizens to be addressed; these respondents represent a sample of the Palestinian society with a margin of error (3%) and this still constitutes a danger in Palestinian society according to the survey, while the Israeli military occupation comes in third place in terms of importance and priorities for Palestinian citizens and their concerns to address it..!

-        It is clear that the long passage of time since the division, and the lack of tangible results in many reconciliation agreements — which, according to opinions, show citizens that there is no real and serious desire among the parties in this regard — has produced among the Palestinian public a kind of resignation and indifference that the division will remain as it is. This is dangerous for the essence of the Palestinian cause...... These are indicators and implications that those in authority, the Palestinian officials, must pay attention to in this survey..and they must take real steps to end the division as quickly as possible so that everyone can confront all the challenges facing the citizens.......!

-        The Coalition for integrity conducted a Palestinian public opinion survey in both the West Bank (including Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip during the period 10-16 September 2022, in order to monitor changes in citizens' impressions and awareness regarding the reality of corruption and its combat. The sample size reached 1291 individuals over the age of 18, of whom 771 individuals were in the West Bank including Jerusalem, and 520 individuals in the Gaza Strip, with a margin of error of 3%; interviews were face-to-face..and in homes.!

-        28% of those surveyed indicated that the escalation of economic crises is the primary challenge that should be prioritized for treatment, and this percentage increases among residents of the northern and southern West Bank compared to its center.. Likewise, the proportion of those who see the escalation of economic crises as the main problem to be prioritized rises among employees in the private sector.!

-        25% of those surveyed indicated that the problem of the spread of corruption is the main problem that should be prioritized for treatment; the proportion of those who see this rises among residents of villages and towns to 30% compared to 22% among camp residents and 24% among city residents, and it also rises among employees in the public sector to 33% compared to 27% for employees in the private sector.

-        31% of the surveyed citizens pointed to the problem of the spread of corruption as a challenge that should be prioritized for resolution, versus 16% in the Gaza Strip, while the results showed a higher degree of sensitivity among citizens in the Gaza Strip regarding the results and effects of the division!!

-        The percentage of citizens who think that the level of corruption in state institutions is still high dropped from 63% in 2021 to 56% in 2022.

·       Below are some of the indicators contained in AMAN Coalition's report (Public Opinion Survey on Corruption in Palestine 2022):

·       Government institutions most exposed to corruption: The majority of surveyed citizens in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip this year (2022) see that the sectors most exposed to corruption are government institutions in particular senior categories, who occupy appointed positions in public executive institutions (ministries, security agencies, and local authorities).

·       Wasta (24%) and favoritism are the most widespread forms of corruption — the crimes of wasta and favoritism, embezzlement of public funds (23%), abuse of credit (13%), and abuseofpower (12%), the crime of bribery (10%), and moneylaundering (8%) are the most widespread forms of corruption!

·       Citizens also believe that weak commitment to the rule of law, the absence of the Legislative Council and supervisory institutions, and the lack of seriousness in holding major corrupters accountable, and weak civil society institutions, in addition to the occupation, have all contributed to the spread of corruption in Palestine. Citizens also believe that some services that are not delivered with high integrity, especially in the fields of appointments and promotions in senior positions as well as health services and the distribution of humanitarian aid and granting permits. Citizens still see that wasta is a means of obtaining public services.

·       According to the opinions of a number of respondents, the services of issuing permits and official authorizations are most exposed to the spread of bribery, especially in the Gaza Strip, as 41% of respondents considered that issuing permits and official authorizations is most exposed to bribery!

·       74% of citizens still consider that crimes related to corruption in food and medicines increased in 2022

·       85% of citizens still believe that the role of the media in combating corruption is ineffective, while 59% of citizens see that the digital world is the most effective media means in highlighting and exposing corruption cases that occurred in 2022

·       Despite the decrease in the percentage of surveyed citizens who believe there is corruption in the judiciary, the percentage is still high, reaching this year 68% of those surveyed!

·       A large majority of citizens (85%) believe that the efforts made to combat corruption are insufficient

·       Half of citizens are not convinced of the effectiveness and adequacy of the efforts of the bodies entrusted with combating corruption in the West Bank. According to surveyed opinions, citizens see that the top five entities most intervening in the work of the bodies tasked with combating corruption are as follows: (1) the Prime Minister's Office and the ministers, (2) the President's Office, (3) the security agencies, (4) the governors and mayors, (5) party leaders.

Citizens in the Gaza Strip are not convinced by the efforts of the bodies tasked with combating corruption in the Strip. They believe these bodies are influenced by parties of the ruling authority in the Strip, and they still doubt the independence of the bodies responsible for prosecuting corruption, and they believe they are influenced by parties of the ruling authority in the Strip, such as: the security apparatuses, the Public Prosecutor, members of the Legislative Council, and party leaders.