A new opinion poll conducted by the Palestinian Authority-based Jerusalem Media and Communications Center (JMCC) shows widespread support for Hamas among PA Arabs. The group's gains were primarily in Judea and Samaria, while residents of war-torn Gaza were less enthusiastic. Hamas' popularity grew dramatically following the IDF's Cast Lead operation in Gaza, the poll found, jumping from 19.3 percent in April of 2008 to 28.5 percent in January 2009. The group's gains were primarily in Judea and Samaria, where support soared from 12.8 percent in November 2008 to 26.5 percent in January of 2009. The poll also found that more than 50 percent of PA Arabs now believe that rocket attacks on Israel are helpful to the Arab national cause, compared to under 40 percent who held the same belief in 2008. Support for Fatah fell as Hamas gained sympathy, the poll showed. Only 26 percent said they trusted Fatah, compared to 31.3 in late 2008. Political support fell from 34 percent to under 28 percent. If PA elections were held today, Hamas would narrowly edge out Fatah with 28.6 percent support to Fatah's 27.9 percent. Hamas currently controls Gaza, while Fatah controls the PA areas of Judea and Samaria. While PA Arabs in Judea and Samaria doubled their support for Hamas following Cast Lead, in Gaza there was no significant increase in the group's popularity. Only 35.2 percent of Gaza Arabs believed Hamas had succeeded in defeating the IDF, compared to more than 53 percent of Arabs in Judea and Samaria who believed the same. The poll was conducted among 1,200 Arabs living in Gaza, Judea and Samaria.