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Cancer boosts Olmert's ratings
30/10/2007 12:07 - (SA)
Jerusalem - Approval ratings for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have climbed since he announced he is suffering from prostate cancer and vowed to remain in office, opinion polls revealed on Tuesday.
Sixty-one percent of Israelis said his public announcement on Monday was courageous while 36% disagreed, according to a survey published in the Yediot Aharonot newspaper.
An overwhelming majority ? 87% - said he should continue on the job while 11% thought he should suspend himself from duty.
Another 61% said they were moved by Olmert's plight and 41% described his performance as prime minister as good, up from 35% a month ago, Yediot reported.
A survey published in the rival Maariv newspaper found that 70.2% of Israelis wanted Olmert to continue with his normal duties, while only 18.9% thought he should take leave and 7.7% resign.
Although only 11% of the public thought Olmert was the person best suited to serve as prime minister, Maariv said this was more positive when compared to 4.8% who were found to think the same in a June poll.
Right-wing opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu continues to top opinion polls as the person most Israelis believe is suited to the job of prime minister, with Defence Minister Ehud Barak in second place.
The Maariv poll was based on interviews with a representative sample of 412 Jewish Israelis and carried a margin of error of 4.8%.
The poll published in Yediot was based on interviews with a cross-section of Israeli society and carried a 4.3% margin of error.
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