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Last update - 01:12 16/06/2009
Haaretz poll: Netanyahu approval rating leaps after policy speech
By Yossi Verter
Tags: Barack Obama, Israel News 

U.S. President Barack Obama has reservations, the Arabs are protesting and the Europeans are doubtful, but for the Israeli public, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on Sunday evening was a big success. Right and left, Kadima and Likud, new immigrants and old-timers all found something they liked in the address at Bar-Ilan University.

For example, in only a month, Netanyahu's approval rating has jumped 16 percentage points from a low of 28 percent the day after the cabinet debate over the budget on May 14. The 44 percent achieved yesterday comes a day after the speech.

Public support for Netanyahu's speech is sky-high, even though Israelis do not have illusions about the prime minister's motives, which they generally attribute to American pressure. But it turns out that Israelis prefer a prime minister who does the right thing even if he does it for the wrong reasons.
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And most of the public thinks the right thing is the combination found in Netanyahu's address: right-wing rhetoric mixed with the desire for peace, an undivided Jerusalem, opposition to the return of Palestinian refugees, a demand for defensible borders, and the words that made the big headline - a demilitarized Palestinian state.

Netanyahu hit a bull's-eye in the Israeli public consensus with his speech. This is reflected in the results of a Haaretz-Dialog survey conducted yesterday under the auspices of Prof. Camil Fuchs of Tel Aviv University. The numbers show that when Netanyahu deals with leadership on defense and policy matters without scare tactics, the public supports him.

But when he is judged on his actions, such as after the budget debacle, the public is not supportive. The conclusion: Netanyahu needs to operate less and lead more. Another conclusion is that maybe he should speak to the public more often, on condition that he says what the public wants to hear.

The Israeli public overwhelmingly supports Netanyahu's speech - 71 percent. According to the poll, the prime minister said the right things and the television event Sunday night will help Israel in the international arena.

However, these positive views do not blind Israelis; they do not believe there will be any real change in the region as a result of the speech. A large majority of Israelis surveyed say the peace process will not see any breakthrough in the wake of the address, and an even larger majority says a demilitarized Palestinian state will not be established in the next few years, as Netanyahu himself now supports.

Netanyahu built a broad consensus in his speech, the survey shows. He will use this support to maneuver his policies with the Americans.

In terms of internal Israeli politics, Netanyahu put himself in the center of the political map. Most Kadima voters, 49 percent, say Tzipi Livni should join the coalition as a result of the speech, while 37 percent of Kadima voters disagreed.

Likud and Labor voters also now broadly support Kadima joining Netanyahu's government, even though his coalition seems more stable than ever.

Another political achievement is how Netanyahu managed to keep onside his own political base, Likud, even as he added supporters from other parties, mostly Labor and Kadima.

The survey shows that 90 percent of Likud voters, an incredible figure, agreed with what Netanyahu said in his speech. Maybe they are aware that a Palestinian state will not emerge as a result, so they are not worried. In addition, 73 percent of Likud voters say Netanyahu said the right things.

The public liked the speech not just because it was based on the Israeli consensus, but also because of its tone: moderate with a desire for peace and casting the blame for a lack of peace on the Arabs.

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      1.   Convelusion 02:40  |  ben 16/06/09
      2.   Bibi you done it good JOB 02:48  |  jay 16/06/09
      3.   So nuttyahoo has achieved what he set out to do 03:12  |  Peter SM 16/06/09
      4.   Time for Abbas to Give a Speech 03:26  |  Mark of Lewiston 16/06/09
      5.   Only time will tell ! 03:58  |  Wise Syrian 16/06/09
      6.   its a facade, the real chaos in his coalition will come when ... 03:59  |  naive 16/06/09
      7.   Yeah And It Was Also Well Received In The U.S. 04:17  |  Jeff Northridge 16/06/09
      8.   oh yeah its the arabs fault 04:19  |  give me a break 16/06/09
      9.   Of course his rating leaped 04:46  |  yonatan 16/06/09
      10.   Sad 04:57  |  Mouaz 16/06/09
      11.   Of course his rating leaped 05:00  |  yona 16/06/09
      12.   israeli approval 05:00  |  dr.joji cherian 16/06/09
      13.   Now, if only the Persians can have a say in their lives 05:22  |  Jeff 16/06/09
      14.   VERY GOOD, BIBI , YOU GOT IT. 05:25  |  BOB KING 16/06/09
      15.   approval 05:35  |  yuval 16/06/09
      16.   Speaking for myself... 06:00  |  Natallie Durson 16/06/09
      17.   Natalie please speak only 06:22  |  E 16/06/09
      18.   It is curious that one cannot even compliment 06:24  |  Mark Lincoln 16/06/09
      19.   approval in Canada 06:28  |  E 16/06/09
      20.   netanyahu gave a very good speech 06:33  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/06/09
      21.   Israelis turned right-wing 06:39  |  Adam 16/06/09
      22.   Netanyahu Speech = No Peace 06:43  |  Adam 16/06/09
      23.   To Wise Syrian-- we have a saying in English 06:47  |  David G 16/06/09
      24.   The Land of Israel rightfully belongs only to the Jewish people. 07:09  |  Mario Sala 16/06/09
      25.   It`s speech season. 07:17  |  Fortuna Benmayor 16/06/09
      26.   Grandmaster Netanyahu and Tzipi who? 07:29  |  Steve of Mevaserret 16/06/09
      27.   My dear Israelis, be realistic... Follow Ben Guerion... 08:02  |  Wedi Mendefera 16/06/09
      28.   Israeli joy over Bibi`s nonstarter non-peace speech unacceptable 08:29  |  Ivar 16/06/09
      29.   #4 - Mark, what could Abbas say? 08:41  |  Jane 16/06/09
      30.   always waiting 08:42  |  zeev 16/06/09
      31.   Now; one thing should follow: freezing the settlements! ... 08:48  |  S 16/06/09
      32.   Nuttily-Speak only TO yourself 08:48  |  Joe F. Moer 16/06/09
      33.   Captain Of Your Own Ship 09:00  |  Mike 16/06/09
      34.   to CJ Kohn #19 09:02  |  zeev 16/06/09
      35.   American `Christians` Supporting Israel 09:10  |  Mike 16/06/09
      36.   Mark from Lewis 09:47  |  x-ray 16/06/09
      37.   while syrian 09:48  |  x-ray 16/06/09
      38.   Durson calling Americans THEM? 09:49  |  Home sweet home 16/06/09
      39.   HIS MAIN OBJECTIVE WAS POLITICAL SURVIVAL, NOT PEACE 09:50  |  indrajaya 16/06/09
      40.   Oh dear, it`s lonely in the minority opinion... 09:55  |  Esther 16/06/09
      41.   Israel liked it because it leads to nothing 10:00  |  Henon 16/06/09
      42.   Now; one thing should follow: freezing the settlements! .... 10:19  |  S 16/06/09
      43.   Bibi is fabulous in Every way!!! 10:23  |  Dr Eric 16/06/09
      44.   24 Jane - Negotiating Tactics 10:24  |  Mark of Lewiston 16/06/09
      45.   The true face of Palestine revealed again.Its all or nothing 11:17  |  PETER SM 16/06/09
      46.   Bibi`s Speech was sensible and an open invitation for peace 11:27  |  Baruch Gold 16/06/09
      47.   # 32, PETER SM 12:23  |  indrajaya 16/06/09
      48.   HENON 12:32  |  PATRIOT 16/06/09
      49.   Demilitarize 12:42  |  oz 16/06/09
      50.   mark of lewistone 12:49  |  ehud 16/06/09
      51.   to CJ Kohn #19 13:02  |  zeev 16/06/09
      52.   Adam # 21 Correction 13:54  |  Jeff Northridge 16/06/09
      53.   northridge--it is true--why do you mislead 14:29  |  andrea 16/06/09
      54.   INDRAJAYA they say one thing in English etc for the infidels 14:45  |  PETER SM 16/06/09
      55.   Dangerous Precedent. 15:09  |  guy 16/06/09
      56.   Israelis like a PM who speaks for Israel. Surprise? 15:18  |  Realist 16/06/09
      57.   The Icing,The Cake and You cant have it and eat it 15:25  |  Ronnie Wolman 16/06/09
      58.   Hi S #29... What sort of "suggestion" can the Pals make... 15:44  |  Esther 16/06/09
      59.   Netanyahu is an arrogant fool. 15:48  |  Mark K. 16/06/09
      60.   GOTTA LOVE BIBI 15:49  |  Petra 16/06/09
      61.   A Step Forward, But... 16:18  |  Aaron 16/06/09
      62.   Netanyahu: Bush Impersonator 16:20  |  Vladek 16/06/09
      63.   settlement 16:34  |  2nd time 16/06/09
      64.   Netanyahu`s speech to the Israeli people 16:48  |  Chris Linthwaite 16/06/09
      65.   Guess what, Aaron... 17:19  |  Linichka 16/06/09
      66.   OK NATHALIE 17:40  |  GA 16/06/09
      67.   Hi Esther #49... I said what sugestion Pals can make.... 17:48  |  S 16/06/09
      68.   To Indrajaya 17:56  |  GA 16/06/09
      69.   speech 18:02  |  bar kochva 16/06/09
      70.   47 Ehud - Ideally 18:10  |  Mark of Lewiston 16/06/09
      71.   Durson@16 Your Opnions don`t count.I assure you. 18:16  |  Whiskey/Bravo 16/06/09
      72.   Whiskey/Bravo 18:35  |  Matty Groves 16/06/09
      73.   Dear Mr. Give Me a Break 18:43  |  utagawa 16/06/09
      74.   andrea # 44 Suspension Or Expulsion From The UN 18:47  |  Jeff Northridge 16/06/09
      75.   To Realist@53...That Netanyahu is liked by us Israelis Is because 18:49  |  Whiskey/Bravo 16/06/09
      76.   mark of lewistone 19:00  |  ehud 16/06/09
      77.   To Matty G @68 On Pushing Buttons: 19:17  |  Whiskey/Bravo 16/06/09
      78.   GO BIBI! BRILLIANT SPEECH! 19:24  |  SDunc 16/06/09
      79.   BIBI`S APPROVAL IS ABOVE OBAMA`S! 19:26  |  SDunc 16/06/09
      80.   To utagawa@69 COULD YOU PLEASE TELL US WHERE THIS MR IS? 19:31  |  KATHY 16/06/09
      81.   Northridge --your horse is going to get 15 out of 15 19:33  |  andrea 16/06/09
      82.   Peter@42 SURELY @ 3 IS A FAKE,RIGHT? I DIDN`T HAVE TO ASK,BUT! 19:35  |  KATHY 16/06/09
      83.   #67 Whiskey bravado???--he wont last 6 months. 19:36  |  andrea 16/06/09
      84.   #76 Sdunc 19:53  |  Chris Linthwaite 16/06/09
      85.   Silly man Chris`L..Your measurement are out of "sync" 20:18  |  Whiskey/Bravo 16/06/09
      86.   Netanyahu speech 20:22  |  Jim Litsey 16/06/09
      87.   Zeev: "always waiting for the roof to collapse before getting out 06:09  |  No dope 17/06/09
      88.   Mike, What about result of Gaza pullout? 06:14  |  No dope 17/06/09
      89.   Zeev: What is your point? 06:16  |  No Dope 17/06/09
      90.   Mike: I`d rather have them than your "friendship" 06:19  |  No Dope 17/06/09
      91.   Right to return 07:08  |  Sam 17/06/09
      92.   To andrea who thinks like an..............@83 18:07  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/06/09
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