Last update - 00:00 08/02/2007
Survey: 78% of public dissatisfied with Israel's political leadership
By Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondent
More than three-quarters of the public are not satisfied with Israel's political leadership, according to a recent survey.
The poll, conducted for the committee on changing the system of government (initiated by the state president), found that of the 78 percent who said they were unhappy with their leaders, the reasons cited included corruption (32 percent) inexperience (12 percent) self-centeredness of the leadership (10 percent) weakness (9 percent) and caring only for the rich (5 percent). The findings of the poll, conducted by the Maagar Mohot ("Brain Trust") Interdisciplinary Research and Consulting Institute, were presented during a seminar at the Knesset on Wedensday.
Half of those polled said they thought the present electoral system should be changed; 39 percent favored a presidential regime and 34 percent opposed it.
The survey also found that 68 percent of those polled said Israel's current politicians are worse than those in the past.
Sixty-one percent said they favored direct elections of individual candidates. When asked what type of candidate they preferred, 20 percent said they supported electing educated candidates, 17 percent wanted to see leaders with national political experience, 11 percent wanted people with major economic experience and 9 percent preferred those with a military background.