Abbas retakes Palestinian lead in poll

JERUSALEM, June 9 (UPI) -- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has gained in popularity after attempting to reconcile with Hamas, a poll of Palestinians indicates.

The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research poll found Abbas would top Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the militant political group designated a terrorist organization by the United States and others, by a 52 percent to 40 percent margin if presidential elections were held today. This is a significant change from a poll in March, which showed Abbas getting only 46 percent compared to 47 percent for Haniyeh, The Jerusalem Post reported Monday.

The center mentioned Hamas's failure reopen the Rafah border crossing and reach a cease-fire deal with Israel as possible reasons for its decline. Abbas was seen by 49 percent of Palestinians as more able than Hamas to reach a peace agreement with Israel.