Almost twice as many prefer Netanyahu over Livni, according to survey, despite drop in satisfaction with current PM.
By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Significantly more Israelis believe that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is more fit to hold his post than opposition leader Tzipi Livni, according to a Dialog poll broadcast Wednesday night on Channel 10.The poll, taken by Tel Aviv University Prof. Camille Fuchs, found that 45 percent of Israelis consider Netanyahu more fitting to be prime minister while just 25% prefer Livni.Ironically, the same poll found that the public’s level of satisfaction with Netanyahu had fallen to 38%, after spiking to 45% on December 8, in the immediate aftermath of the Carmel Forest fire.A New Wave poll broadcast on Channel 2 found that Kadima holds a three-seat lead over Likud. The poll found that if Barak led Labor, Kadima would win 32 seats, Likud 29, Israel Beiteinu 16, Shas 10, and Labor 7.But if former Labor leader Amram Mitzna returned to his former post and replaced Barak, Labor would win six more seats. Kadima would win 30, Likud 27, Israel Beiteinu 16, Shas 10, and Mitzna would keep Labor at its current strength with 13 seats.The poll also compared the popularity of Shas chairman Eli Yishai with his predecessor, Aryeh Deri. It found that if Deri headed Shas, it would win 15 seats, compared to 10 under Yishai.Asked who was most fit to head Shas, 29% said Deri, 15% said Construction and Housing Minister Ariel Attias, and just 12% said Yishai.