Pollster Khalil Shikaki Speaks at Princeton On "Palestinians in the Post-Arafat Era".

This article reports that director of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, Khalil Shikaki has conducted more than 100 surveys of Palestinian public opinion since 1995. Discussing "Palestinians in the Post-Arafat Era: What Direction?" at Princeton on April 7, he said that most recent polls, conducted in December and March, reveal significant positive changes: 70 percent of Palestinians support an end to the conflict, up from 42 percent a year and a half ago; two-thirds of the public are now opposed to violence; support for the Jewish nature of Israel has increased from 52 percent to 63 percent; and there is a new expectation that reconciliation will take place soon. In terms of governance, he said, Palestinians are readying for real democratic change.