Poll: 52.3%:30.6% Public prefers Likud/Labor/Yahadut Hatorah coalition
government to elections

Aaron Lerner Date: 2 December 2004

The following is IMRA's translation of results of a telephone poll of 533
adult Israelis (including Israeli Arabs) and 468 Likud members carried out
by Shvakim Panorama for Israel Radio's "Another Matter" program on 1
December 2004 that is presented on the website of the radio station.
(http://bet.iba.org.il ).

How would you term Ehud Barak's behavior at the meeting of the Labor Party
Central Committee that met yesterday

[IMRA: In a move generally recognized as carefully planned, the meeting
that was to decide if Labor Party primaries would be advanced was held in a
room that could not come close to holding all the members of the Committee
so that a vote could not take place that evening. In addition, a move was
underway to push though a decision that the vote - when held - would not be
via secret ballot. Former PM Barak grabbed the microphone to urge that the
vote be via secret ballot. While the move was the subject of considerable
ridicule, he did succeed in establishing that the vote would be by secret
ballot. The vote, however, was postponed until after it is expected that
the Labor Party will join the Government.]

Total: Showed leadership 7.5% Lost control 32.2% Acted like a thug 36.7%
Don't know 23.6%
Likud voters: Leadership 3.0% Lost control 41.8% Thug 41.7% Don't know 13.5%
Labor voters: Leadership 15.0% Lost control 29.8% Thug 35.3% Don't know
19.8%

Who do you think is responsible for the disturbance at the meeting of the
Labor Party Central Committee? Peres and Ramon who schemed to prevent a vote
or Ehud Barak who grabbed the microphone and voiced protest?
Total: Peres 13.1% Barak 48.8% Don't know 38.1%
Likud voters: Peres 9.5% Barak 67.9% Don't know 22.6%
Labor voters: Peres 17.4% Barak 49.7% Don't know 32.9%

Did the Shinui Party do the right think or err when it decided to leave the
Government over money to Yahadut Hatorah?
Total: Correct 51.9% Erred 33.9% No opinion 14.2%
Likud voters:: Correct 40.3% Erred 47.4% No opinion 12.3%
Labor voters:: Correct 55.1% Erred 33.0% No opinion 11.9%
Shinui voters: Correct 60.8% Erred 30.8% No opinion 8.4%

Of the following two possibilities, what do you think the prime minister
should do in light of the political crises? Advance elections or form a
Likud/Labor/Yahadut Hatorah coalition government?
Total: Elections 30.6% Coalition 52.3% No opinion 17.1%
Likud voters: Elections 23.2% Coalition 66.3% No opinion 10.5%
Labor voters: Elections 26.3% Coalition 61.5% No opinion 12.2%

If you were a member of the Likud Central Committee and the prime minister
were to ask the Central Committee to approve the Labor Party joining the
Government, would you support or oppose?
Total: Support 53.2% Oppose 29.0% Don't know 17.8%
Likud voters: Support 63.3% Oppose 24.5% Don't know 12.2%
Labor voters: Support 50.4% Oppose 36.3% Don't know 13.3%

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il