Hirchson and Ramon ranked 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in annual Corruption Index survey.
By RUTH EGLASHolmert prostate 224 88(photo credit: GPO)
Even after sharing his personal health problems with the general public, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is still seen as the country's most corrupt government minister, according to a poll released Wednesday evening at the Sderot Conference for Society, which took place Tuesday and Wednesday in the southern border town.
However, while coming out at number one last year, too, with 42 percent of those questioned saying that Olmert's public behavior was corrupt to very corrupt, this year more than half (56%) took that position.
Olmert had stiff competition for the number one spot, however, from former finance minister Avraham Hirchson, who allegedly took public funds for personal use. Hirchson came in a very close second with 55% saying he was corrupt.
Tied for third place were Vice Premier Haim Ramon, who was recently convicted of sexual harassment, and Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman, with 33%. Sharing fourth place for the most corrupt government ministers were Defense Minister Ehud Barak (29%) and current Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On.
The cabinet's only two women, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Education Minister Yuli Tamir, received a far more honorable standing, being labeled the most honest government ministers. Livni won the title last year, too. This year, 46% of those polled said they believed she was honest to very honest and 40% said the same about Tamir. Other government ministers considered to be honest were Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz (35%), Minister for Internal Security Avi Dichter (27%) and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Eli Yishai (25%).
Kadima MK Tzahi Hanegbi, who won the title of most corrupt MK last year, is still viewed by many as corrupt. Hanegbi garnered 40% of the vote this year, followed by Likud party chairman MK Binyamin Netanyahu.
Those considered to be honest to very honest were MK Shelly Yacimovich (44%) and Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik (41%).
The annual corruption survey, which was conducted by the Maagar Mochot Interdisciplinary Consulting Research Institute, was based on a sample of 551 Israeli adults.
