Support For Israel's Prime Minister Plunges - 75% down to 48%

[bigtree]

Olmert’s popularity plunges in Israel: poll
(Reuters)

11 August 2006


JERUSALEM - Rising Israeli casualties and constant Hezbollah rocket attacks have sharply eroded public support in Israel for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his defence minister, an opinion poll showed on Friday.

The survey in the Haaretz newspaper found only 48 percent of Israelis were satisfied with Olmert’s performance compared with popularity ratings of more than 75 percent in polls taken in the early stages of fighting against the Lebanese group.

Public support for Defence Minister Amir Peretz fell from 65 percent to 37 percent, the survey showed.

Commentary accompanying the survey said the continuing hostilities, which began on July 12 after Hezbollah seized two soldiers in a cross-border raid, mounting Israeli casualties and daily rocket attacks were to blame for the drops in popularity.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/August/middleeast_August283.xml§ion=middleeast&col=

[bigtree]

1. big deal here

could play in the negotiations. could influence behavior in the conflict.

Both the prime minister and the defense minister. Plunging in popularity because of their assault on Lebanon. Wow.

[Fozzledick]

5. You just don't get it

His popularity is falling because his response has been too RESTRAINED in an attempt to minimize casualties.

[bigtree]

6. all the more significant, if it were true

More airstrikes against the Lebanese population won't bring about the results they seek; security, safety. More killings of innocent Lebanese won't lessen the ability of Hizbollah or anyone else from commiting violent reprisals against Israel, its interests, and its allies. A more extreme approach won't bring about the results they have sought with this campaign. A more extreme Israeli regime won't do it either. All of those will just escalate the conflict and possibly widen it.

More restraint is in order, not less.

[evox]

7. You don't get it either

Name one good thing Olmert has done in this war?

[CrushTheDLC]

2. It should have dropped further than that.

He got elected because his (and Sharon's) "new" party claimed they were leaving the Likud Zionfascist bullshit behind and trying to make some fucking progress.

Obviously that was a lie.

[Vidar]

3. Glad to hear it.

[Tom Joad]

4. Good news. Now attention please to creative protest in Lebanon on Sat.

Please see here.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1883374&mesg_id=1883374

US citizens and other internationals to deliver aid to the people of Lebanon.