If elections were held today, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would suffer a resounding defeat at the hands of a number of political rivals, according to a Channel 10 poll broadcast Wednesday.

When asked who would be their preferred prime ministerial candidate, 30 percent of those polled said Netanyahu, while 18 percent picked Labor MK Ami Ayalon.

Former prime minister Ehud Barak (Labor) came in third with 12 percent, followed by Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman (7 percent), Olmert (3 percent) and Defense Minister Amir Peretz (1 percent).

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According to the poll, 57 percent of Israelis say they want immediate elections, while 72 percent say Olmert should not continue to serve as prime minister.

Netanyahu: Kadima MKs have inquired into returning to Likud
Several Kadima MKs have inquired into the possibility of returning to the Likud Party, Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday.

Netanyahu stressed that the Kadima MKs have not approached him directly on the matter, but rather have spoken to other Likud MKs.

The Likud chairman refused to name the Kadima MKs, who left Likud along with former prime minister Ariel Sharon, nor did he reveal how many have expressed an interest in returning to his party.

Speaking to reporters, Netanyahu said that given the current political situation, there is a need for early elections, but acknowledged that the Knesset is "not yet ripe for elections.

Netanyahu said he prefers to hold new elections, due to expectations that the Likud will increase its number of Knesset seats and will be able to head the next government.

The former prime minister also harshly criticized the performance of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government, saying Olmert has lost the nation's confidence and has of yet done nothing to rectify the series of failures that came to light during the recent war in Lebanon.

According to a Channel 10 poll broadcast Wednesday, 57 percent of Israelis say they want immediate elections, while 72 percent say Olmert should not continue to serve as prime minister.

When asked who would be their preferred prime ministerial candidate, 30 percent of those polled said Netanyahu, while 18 percent picked Labor MK Ami Ayalon. Former prime minister Ehud Barak (Labor) came in third with 12 percent, followed by Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman (7 percent), Olmert (3 percent) and Defense Minister Amir Peretz (1 percent).