Polls show Barak's popularity falling

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Labor chairman Ehud Barak's popularity has fallen consistently since he won the Labor leadership race and became defense minister in June, a Gal Hadash poll broadcast Thursday on Channel 10 revealed. The poll found that 49 percent of Israelis were unsatisfied with Barak's job performance and only 30% were satisfied. The percentage of Israelis satisfied with Barak has fallen from 53% just six months ago. Support for Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has grown. Asked who should be prime minister, 35% said Netanyahu, 13% Barak and 10% Olmert. A separate poll taken by Ma'agar Mohot for Israel Radio asked Israelis for their man of the year for 2007. A hefty majority chose President Shimon Peres over Olmert, Netanyahu and Barak. Only four percent of respondents said Barak, both among the general public and among Labor voters.