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Labor, Barak enjoy popularity surge thanks to Gaza operation By Yossi Verter Tags: Gaza, Israel news, elections  The Labor Party has emerged the biggest political winner of the war against Hamas so far. Labor and its head, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, have made significant gains, bringing the left-wing to a 60:60 draw against right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties. Just a week ago, before the offensive, the Haaretz-Dialog public opinion poll gave the right bloc 65 MKs and the left 53 plus two for the Pensioners. While Likud actually gained support in the past week, it came at the expense of other right-wing parties. Advertisement Labor, on the other hand, is mostly pulling votes away from parties such as the Pensioners, Meretz and the various environmentalist parties. A decisive majority of respondents support continuing the army's air campaign against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip without endangering the lives of Israel Defense Forces soldiers in a ground offensive. Only about 20 percent of respondents support expanding the operation into a ground campaign - about the same proportion that supports an immediate cease-fire. According to the survey, conducted Wednesday under the supervision of Professor Camil Fuchs of Tel Aviv University, if the Knesset elections were to be held today both of the main blocs would find it hard to form a government unless one of the parties were to defect to the rival side. Just five days into the war, though, Israeli casualties have been minimal and there is an overall sense that the operation is a military success. Experience teaches that the poll numbers could change very quickly with any complication in the fighting. During the first week of the Second Lebanon War, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and then defense minister Amir Peretz enjoyed unprecedented popularity ratings of 75 percent and 80 percent, respectively. Two months later those ratings fell by about 90 percent. As expected, Barak and Labor are the main beneficiaries of the war, for now. The latest poll has added 5 Knesset seats to Labor. Likud and Kadima gained two and one MK, respectively. At this stage the war bodes well for the three leading parties. Most of the public reportedly believes that in time of war it's best to vote for parties whose candidates are experienced, such as former chiefs of staff, prime ministers and defense and foreign ministers. Barak's personal fortunes improved sharply, with 53 percent of poll respondents expressing satisfaction with his performance (compared to just 34 percent about six months ago). A larger number, 38 percent, are dissatisfied with him but that is nevertheless a significant improvement over the 52 percent disapproval rating of six months ago. Olmert, too, has gotten a popularity boost, with a 33 percent popularity rating this week compared to an average of 14 percent since the Second Lebanon War, about two and a half years ago. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu are also getting good grades from the public for their performances in recent days. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Israelis targeted abroad Gunman opens fire on Israelis working at shopping mall in Denmark. Iran silences dissent Newspaper forcibly shut down after article blaming Hamas for Gaza violence.   1.   Goes to prove ... 09:33  |  Historian 01/01/09   2.   Labor, Barak enjoy popularity surge thanks to Gaza operation 09:36  |  Sharjeel Faiz 01/01/09   3.   Both of you #1 & 2 = wrong. Israel`s leader`s popularity comes fr 10:34  |  S 01/01/09

Read & React IDF recommends major, but brief Gaza ground offensive Responses: 97 Ari Shavit: Israelis who blame Israel are not helping Palestinians Responses: 94 Roi Ben-Yehuda: Pro-Israel camp would be wise to heed Muslim cries for peace Responses: 39 Israel Harel: Like it did in Lebanon, Israel blinked first in Gaza Responses: 41 Poll: Majority of Israelis support continuing military operations in Gaza Responses: 36 Haniyeh: Palestinian victory in Gaza is near Responses: 70 More Headlines 01:02 IAF bombs Gaza mosque used as terror hub 01:01 Egypt FM: Hamas gave Israel the excuse to launch Gaza attacks 22:23 Livni: Cease-fire in Gaza would grant Hamas legitimacy 23:11 Barrage of Gaza rockets strikes Ashkelon, Be'er Sheva, Ashdod 23:24 Not just air strikes: Israel takes the fight to Arab media 22:44 Danish police arrest Palestinian on suspicion of shooting Israelis at shopping mall 15:02 Israelis who blame Israel are not helping the Palestinians 13:27 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email 15:03 Poll: Most Israelis support continuing Gaza military op 15:01 Like in Lebanon, in Gaza Israel blinked first 18:34 Tel Aviv, Rishon Letzion prepare bomb shelters in case of attack 13:57 AMIRA HASS / Thousands of Gazans near Rafah displaced by IAF bombing of tunnels 18:00 12 Palestinians hurt in Gaza fighting being treated in Israeli hopsitals 17:59 Czech FM: Finding Gaza truce is a 'main role' of the EU Previous Editions Select Day 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 22 dec 21 dec 19 dec

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