Monday, December 6, 2010

Jpost/Smith poll: PM Netanyahu and Likud ministers get high Good performing grades

(Jpost).Israelis view Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon, Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan and Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz as the best-performing ministers in the government, according to a poll for The Jerusalem Post.

The Smith Consulting poll of a representative sample of 500 adult Israelis was carried out November 30-December 1.It asked respondents to grade the 30 ministers on a scale of one to 10, with one being the worst and 10 the best.

The ministers who scored the highest were Kahlon (6.97), Erdan (6.6), Steinitz (5.98), Welfare and Social Services Minister Isaac Herzog (5.97), Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar (5.96) and Minister-without- Portfolio Bennie Begin (5.93).

Respondents gave the worst grades to Yishai (4.4), followed by his Shas ally Religious Services Minister Ya’acov Margi (4.74).

Netanyahu was near the top of the list at 5.90.

Kahlon’s top rating was seen as connected to his fight against the cellphone companies on behalf of consumers. The poll was taken amid headlines praising Kahlon for his success in forcing the companies to cut exit fees.

Erdan, who is considering an offer to become ambassador to the United Nations, has been given credit for leading an environmental revolution, an issue that is increasingly popular with Israelis.

The fact that Steinitz has remained popular despite being finance minister is considered an accomplishment.

Herzog was given a much better grade than his competition for the Labor Party leadership, Defense Minister Ehud Barak (5.23) and Minority Affairs Minister Avishay Braverman, who at 5.16 was one of the least-popular ministers.

Begin, who has not taken any aides, is popular with the public because of his honesty and his modesty.