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Last update - 05:46 01/04/2009
Haaretz poll: 54% of public dissatisfied with new government
By Yossi Verter
Tags: israel news 

The Knesset approved Benjamin Netanyahu's return as prime minister last night amid allegations that his new government is bloated, convoluted and unprepared to deal with Israel's many problems.

According to a survey for Haaretz, the public is not giving the new government a grace period, perhaps because it has so many ministers and deputy ministers, or because so many of them have dubious portfolios.

The problem could also be the friction that accompanied the government's formation; two key cabinet members are suffering embarrassingly low support ratings. Netanyahu, who dreamed for a decade about returning to the Prime Minister's Bureau, will have to work hard and fast to show he is productive.
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The most striking result of the Haaretz-Dialog poll, conducted under Prof. Camil Fuchs of the statistics department at Tel Aviv University, is the extent of the public's dissatisfaction with the new government. Less than a third of those surveyed said they are satisfied with Netanyahu's government. More than half, 54 percent, are dissatisfied with the new government.

During his speech at the Knesset Tuesday, Netanyahu said his government was formed to deal with two of Israel's biggest challenges ever: defense - including Iran's nuclear program - and the economic slowdown. But most of the people surveyed said the new government is not prepared to respond to those challenges.

On defense issues, the participants were divided, probably because of the presence of incumbent Defense Minister Ehud Barak in the government. On socioeconomic issues, the vast majority said the government will not be able to provide the right answers, despite Netanyahu's reputation as "Mr. Economy." There might also be concerns that Netanyahu selected a finance minister with no experience in economics - Yuval Steinitz.

Netanyahu recognized the trouble he was in for appointing Steinitz, and tried to minimize the damage. At the Knesset, he announced that he would be acting as a kind of super finance minister. This is probably not enough. Netanyahu, who is very sensitive to public opinion, will have to undermine further the authority of his good friend to prove to the people that the economy is being handled from his office, not from an office nearby.

The public believes that two of the cabinet's senior ministers are not suited for their jobs. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman received the support of only a quarter of participants in the survey. Most believe that Lieberman should not represent Israel abroad.

Finance Minister Steinitz received 22 percent in his favor, compared with 27 percent against. More than half the respondents said they simply do not know what they think of him - they do not know who Steinitz is.

While Steinitz is an unknown to some, everyone seems to know Lieberman all too well. The result is that two leading ministers have poor approval ratings their first day in office.

Compared to these choices, Defense Minister Barak does well. He enjoys stellar support in the survey: Two-thirds of the respondents say he is appropriate for his job. Before Operation Cast Lead, Barak had only half his current support.

Ironically, Barak, at least for now, is the most popular minister in the government. He is the public-relations asset that Tzipi Livni was in Ehud Olmert's government. Cleary Netanyahu knew what he was doing when he went out of his way to give senior jobs to top Labor MKs so they would join the coalition.

Barak may be pleased with the support for him as defense minister, but the survey shows that Labor has suffered a serious blow to its image, particularly because of the way the party joined the coalition. According to the survey, if elections were held today, Labor would lose a third of its voters, which corresponds to four seats in the Knesset. In the February general election, they won 12 seats and received another as a result of an agreement with left-wing party Meretz.

What is important here is a question asked to voters of all the parties. Only in Labor's case were the survey's participants clear: They would not vote for Labor if elections were held today.

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      1.   Banana Republic 02:31  |  max green 01/04/09
      2.   54% voted Right - not for Labor or Kadima 02:42  |  Joe 01/04/09
      3.   LOL, I really hate to remind you...... 02:46  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/04/09
      4.   Sour grapes 02:50  |  Moshe 01/04/09
      5.   What, exactly did you expect? 02:58  |  Welshman 01/04/09
      6.   54% of public dissatisfied 03:01  |  WHG 01/04/09
      7.   "Labor would lose a third of its voters" 03:06  |  Giora Me`ir 01/04/09
      8.   Poll only as good as the pollers 03:06  |  Christopher 01/04/09
      9.   To Max in Illinois:Obvious poll 03:08  |  Arie 01/04/09
      10.   Bitter Haaretz 03:10  |  Edifice 01/04/09
      11.   My Condolences 03:18  |  Haaretz Fan 01/04/09
      12.   Reality check: 88% dissatisfied with Livni led government 03:04  |  Delores 01/04/09
      13.   I`m surprised that Barak`s appointment is viewed positively 03:33  |  Mario 01/04/09
      14.   Netanyahu Agenda 04:11  |  Le Corbeau 01/04/09
      15.   Peace or no cash 04:46  |  Paul 01/04/09
      16.   A question 04:51  |  Joel A. Levitt 01/04/09
      17.   After The Sweet Sounds Of The A Capella Swearing In 04:54  |  Jeff Northridge 01/04/09
      18.   To # 6. US should cut all aid to the Arabs like you. Full stop 05:20  |  Alfredo 01/04/09
      19.   A pal state and EJis the CapitaL 05:51  |  Simon Mohammed 01/04/09
      20.   The egoistic Netanyahu dilemma 05:54  |  allang 01/04/09
      21.   Talkbacks are a riot 06:18  |  David K 01/04/09
      22.   54% of public dissatisfied 06:23  |  Jasper 01/04/09
      23.   grace period 06:54  |  Bob 01/04/09
      24.   2 second honeymoon 07:21  |  Marilyn 01/04/09
      25.   Buyers remorse 07:22  |  Natallie Durson 01/04/09
      26.   G20 like Ben is lost 07:27  |  Shimon Cleopas 01/04/09
      27.   Off To A Good Start 07:38  |  Natan 01/04/09
      28.   How many readers are dissatisfied with Haaretz? 07:39  |  BBR 01/04/09
      29.   Three Protests Welcoming Government 07:40  |  Gilad Shalit 01/04/09
      30.   guilty until proven innocent? 07:47  |  chuck 01/04/09
      31.   Dissatisfaction with Netanyahu 08:16  |  Garry 01/04/09
      32.   Crucifiction? Could be worse! 08:21  |  shlomo 01/04/09
      33.   #9 Thanks for the laugh, Jasper 08:27  |  Johnboy 01/04/09
      34.   No wonder we don`t get what we want 08:32  |  Tzfonit 01/04/09
      35.   Meaningless poll. How did Haaretz vote?? 08:39  |  Kenny 01/04/09
      36.   One big reason this won`t work: cronyism 08:54  |  Michael 01/04/09
      37.   Give this guy a break 09:31  |  losman 01/04/09
      38.   Livni is to blame 09:47  |  Joe W 01/04/09
      39.   If you polled the talkback trolls for sure you got 54% against 09:51  |  asdf 01/04/09
      40.   A "democratic" election resulting in a government nobody wants. 10:08  |  S 01/04/09
      41.   PROBABLY A MEANINGLESS POLL;NOT REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE 10:30  |  EL 01/04/09
      42.   54% voted Right - not for Labor or Kadima 10:36  |  Joe 01/04/09
      43.   #31, S 11:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/04/09
      44.   Actually Johnboy, it`s you who are the funniest voice on talkback 12:05  |  Freethinker 01/04/09
      45.   #26 Tzfonit - How right you are! 12:43  |  Yonatan 01/04/09
      46.   54% of public dissatisfied with new government 13:00  |  Gerald Zamg 01/04/09
      47.   #30 Joe W (Livni is to blame 13:15  |  Gerald Zamg 01/04/09
      48.   # 4 christopher 13:15  |  Axel 01/04/09
      49.   Bibi and Obama equally bad 13:50  |  x-ray 01/04/09
      50.   FYI -only 21% of the Israelis voted Likkkud (27 seats) 13:57  |  A Bethlehemite 01/04/09
      51.   Israeli public got what it asked for 13:58  |  Jack 01/04/09
      52.   who is this who claims livni is to blame? 14:14  |  eric 01/04/09
      53.   54% of public dissatisfied with new government 14:35  |  Brian Gross 01/04/09
      54.   Actually FT, Johnboy is a most knowledgable voice... 14:39  |  BBSNews 01/04/09
      55.   dissatisfied 14:53  |  zion segal 01/04/09
      56.   54%, not bad 15:17  |  J. Frank Mortimer 01/04/09
      57.   27 out of 120 seats and 46% popularity, is quite good 15:45  |  Gilad 01/04/09
      58.   people get the gov they deserve 16:05  |  satisfied? 01/04/09
      59.   WHAT!?! 16:39  |  Mic`hael 01/04/09
      60.   I would have thought the # to be higher 17:28  |  mark 01/04/09
      61.   Tzfonit (#34) O Really 18:08  |  Gil 01/04/09
      62.   Tzfonit (#34) O Really 18:08  |  Gil 01/04/09
      63.   Israeli gvt is the duly elected gvt, Hamas is duly elected also, 19:22  |  American in NY 01/04/09
      64.   Yes it shows Kadima crys Sour Grapes 19:36  |  Shepherd 01/04/09
      65.   54% 19:41  |  rigma 01/04/09
      66.   not! 19:43  |  rigma 01/04/09
      67.   American in NY (#63) Wrong! 20:17  |  Gil 01/04/09
      68.   American in NY (#63) Wrong! 20:18  |  Gil 01/04/09
      69.   Re# 1 Also add my name to the 54 % 20:29  |  Ines 01/04/09
      70.   Re # I wish the problem will be Kadima or Labour in the... 20:33  |  Ines 01/04/09
      71.   Cipora #43 20:37  |  S 01/04/09
      72.   Re# 3 Dino we didn`t vote for them... 20:37  |  Ines 01/04/09
      73.   Re# 4 Moshe everything means everything 20:40  |  Ines 01/04/09
      74.   Re# 5 Welshman...In Israel you don`t really get what You vote 20:44  |  Ines 01/04/09
      75.   Re# 6 There are bad things and bad things 20:50  |  Ines 01/04/09
      76.   CORRECTION! 21:07  |  tad chase 01/04/09
      77.   Go Figure 21:09  |  Sean 01/04/09
      78.   Re#63 American in NY Hamas doesn`t even 22:06  |  Ines 01/04/09
      79.   given olmerts 6% approval and lib media`s slant 01:39  |  A. BLOOM 02/04/09
      80.   Poll of the Leftists 02:41  |  Brod 02/04/09
      81.   Israel has a form of Democracy 03:47  |  Mark Lincoln 02/04/09
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