October 29, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in Israel think a former prime minister would do a better job than other political leaders in addressing a potential nuclear threat from Iran, according to a poll by Shvakim Panorama released by Israel Radio. 26 per cent of respondents pick Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu for this task.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in Israel think a former prime minister would do a better job than other political leaders in addressing a potential nuclear threat from Iran, according to a poll by Shvakim Panorama released by Israel Radio. 26 per cent of respondents pick Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu for this task.

Labour leader Ehud Barak is second on the list of four politicians with 18.7 per cent, followed by Israel Our Home leader Avigdor Lieberman with 16.1 per cent. Support for current prime minister and Kadima leader Ehud Olmert stands at eight per cent.

A second list, with Kadima member and current foreign minister Tzipi Livni in place of Olmert, also shows Netanyahu as the most trusted leader with 25.3 per cent, followed by Barak with 16.9 per cent, Lieberman with 16.7 per cent, and Livni with 11.5 per cent.

In March 2006, Israeli voters renewed the 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.

After being branded as part of an "axis of evil" by U.S. president George W. Bush in January 2002, Iran has contended that its nuclear program aims to produce energy, not weapons. In June 2005, former Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won Iran’s presidential election in a run-off over Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani with 61.6 per cent of all cast ballots.

In December 2005, Ahmadinejad suggested that Israel be removed from the Middle East and questioned the Holocaust, saying, "They have fabricated a legend under the name ‘Massacre of the Jews’ and they hold it higher than God himself, religion itself and the prophets themselves."

In December 2006 and March 2007, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed sanctions against Iran after it failed to stop uranium enrichment—a process needed both to make nuclear weapons and produce electricity.

On Oct. 17, just before Olmert left for a planned visit to Russia, Netanyahu—a staunch Olmert opponent—reportedly called him and asked him to tell Russian president Vladimir Putin: "In Israel we are all united in believing that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon. There is no coalition or opposition over this issue in Israel."

Polling Data

Who of the following would best handle the Iranian nuclear threat?

First list

Benjamin Netanyahu	26.0%
Ehud Barak	18.7%
Avigdor Lieberman	16.1%
Ehud Olmert	8.0%
None of them	22.8%
Don’t know	8.4%

Second list

Benjamin Netanyahu	25.3%
Ehud Barak	16.9%
Avigdor Lieberman	16.7%
Tzipi Livni	11.5%
None of them	21.2%
Don’t know	8.4%

Source: Shvakim Panorama / Israel Radio
Methodology: Interviews with 514 Israeli adults, conducted on Oct. 23, 2007. Margin of error is 4.3 per cent.