October 21, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Israel think Ehud Olmert should leave his post while he faces three separate police investigations, according to a poll by Maagar Mochot released by Israel Radio. 58 per cent of respondents think the Israeli prime minister should take a leave of absence.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Israel think Ehud Olmert should leave his post while he faces three separate police investigations, according to a poll by Maagar Mochot released by Israel Radio. 58 per cent of respondents think the Israeli prime minister should take a leave of absence.

In March 2006, Israeli voters renewed their legislature (Knesset). Kadima, founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon and led by Olmert, secured 29 seats. Labour, the Retired People’s Party (Gil) and the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) joined Kadima in a coalition. In October, the Israeli cabinet approved the addition of Israel Our Home to the government. Olmert’s coalition now has the support of 78 of the Knesset’s 120 members.

Olmert, whose government is widely unpopular at the moment, is facing three separate criminal investigations for alleged wrongdoing before he assumed office last year. The first is a probe into allegations that Olmert favoured business associates in the privatization of Israel’s second largest bank, the Bank Leumi, when he served as finance minister in 2005. A second investigation is looking at whether Olmert received a bribe in the form of a reduced price while buying a luxury home in Jerusalem in 2004. The Israeli Police announced the third investigation—which focuses on several political appointments made while Olmert was trade and industry minister—earlier this month.

Several lawmakers from different parties have called for Olmert to resign in the wake of the probes. 53 per cent of respondents fear there could be an early legislative election in 2008.

On Oct. 20, Israeli tourism minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch—a former deputy Israel Police chief—said investigations launched against public officials should be limited to a timeframe. Referring to the probes into Olmert’s alleged wrongdoing, Aharonovitch said: "It is not easy to run a country when a number of investigations have been launched against you, particularly when the responsibilities of a prime minister in Israel are great and complex."

Polling Data

Should prime minister Ehud Olmert take a leave of absence now in the wake of the police investigations?

Yes	58%
No	30%
Other	22%

Do you think that the coming elections for the Knesset will be advanced to 2008?

Yes	53%
No	23%
Other	24%

Source: Maagar Mochot / Israel Radio
Methodology: Interviews with 522 Israeli adults, conducted on Oct. 17, 2007. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.