Friday, October 8, 2010

Poll: Netanyahu's maintains high approval ratings (68%); support for right-wing surge as peace talks falter

(via INN and IMRA).Israeli support for rightwing and ultra-nationalist parties has surged, a poll showed on Thursday, as recently-launched peace talks with the Palestinians face collapse.

If an election were held now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanahyahu's Likud party would win 33 of the 120 seats in parliament against its current 27, according to a survey conducted by Israel's public radio.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's far-right Yisrael Beitenu party, which is a key coalition partner, would also gain six seats, increasing its showing from 15 to 21.

The left Labor party of Defence Minister Ehud Barak, which once dominated Israeli politics, would drop from 13 to nine seats while the centre-right opposition Kadima party of former foreign minister Tzipi Livni would slip from 28 to 26 seats.

The poll was carried out among a representative sample of 500 registered voters and the pollsters gave a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percent.

The results also gave Netanyahu an approval rating of 68 percent as he faces a standoff with Israel's key ally the United States after refusing to extend restrictions on Jewish settlement construction in the occupied West Bank that expired last month.

The people survued in the poll were also asked: Do you support or oppose the continuation of the freeze on Jewish construction in the area of Judea and Samaria for sixty days today in return for the receipt of guarantees and incentives from the United States? oppose extending 45%, support 42%
Among those planning now to vote Likud: For 44% Against 47%

Who is more appropriate to be prime minister, Netanyahu or Livni?
Netanyahu 48% Livni 23% Don't know, Neither, Other replies 29%