New '95 940 Sedan - Final Production Closeout
Rabin Making
A Comeback
Poll says Israelis are pleased with Labor's domestic
progress — but dissatisfied with peace process.
LARRY DERFNER ISRAEL CORRESPONDENT
K
• The 940 has a longer wheelbase
•Limited Snip Differential
for a smoother ride.
better winter traction
• Antilock Brakes and Dual Airbags • Lower maintenance cost
• Side Impact Protection (a 1997
•4 year or 50,000 mile fa•
safety requirement)
warranty
Price includes: All standard equipment (ABS, Dual Airbags, Cruise
Control, Power Windows & Locks, Power Mirrors) and nordic package.
Destination charge, tax, title are additional.
36 Month
LEASE
Zero Capitalized Cost Reduction
Due at Delivery: Acquisition fee $495, security deposit
$375.00, first payment, all taxes, license, 15 cents per
mile over 36,000, purchase option $13,540.00 total of
payments = monthly payment X 36.
72
Open Ill 9 p.m.
on Mondays & Thursdays;
and
Saturdays until 4 p.m.
ey findings in a new poll
suggest that with 16
months to go before the na-
tional elections, Prime
Minister Yitzhak Rabin has re-
gained public confidence, large-
ly because Palestinian terrorism
has abated in the last 10 weeks.
By contrast, Likud leader
Binyamin Netanyahu's public
standing has fallen.
In addition, Israelis think high-
ly of the government for its do-
mestic achievements, but would
prefer to vote for right-wing par-
ties because of their lingering dis-
satisfaction with the peace
process.
These results were contained
in an unusually comprehensive
set of public opinion surveys con-
ducted in late June by Israel's
leading pollster, Dr. Mina
Tsemach.
The findings, presented on Is-
rael Television, showed that in a
head-to-head race for prime min-
ister, Mr. Rabin would now edge
Mr. Netanyahu, 39 percent to 38
percent. This marks a sharp
turnaround; in the early part of
the year, when terror was raging
through the country, Mr. Ne-
tanyahu was running ahead by
as much as 10 percent, Ms.
Tsemach said.
While Mr. Rabin won the
choice for prime minister by only
the slightest of margins, he fin-
ished far ahead of Mr. Ne-
tanyahu when respondents were
asked to compare their leader-
ship abilities.
Asked who was the better ne-
gotiator, 50 percent chose Mr. Ra-
bin, 25 percent Mr. Netanyahu.
The prime minister was consid-
ered more persuasive than the
Likud leader, by a 43-34 percent
margin. Mr. Rabin also finished
well ahead on credibility (42-28),
personal honesty (43-26) and in
ability to withstand pressure (41-
34).
Explaining why the polls
showed Mr. Rabin way out in
front of Mr. Netanyahu in the
public's regard, yet barely win-
ning the prime ministerial vote,
Ms. Tsemach noted that the polls
also showed that the Likud is
more popular than Labor. "The
vote for prime minister is strong-
ly influenced by the party the
candidate belongs to. Mr. Rabin
is pulling Labor along on his coat-
tails, while Mr. Netanyahu is be-
ing pulled along on the Likud's
coattails," she said.
Dan Meridor of Likud ac-
knowledged that Mr. Ne-
tanyahu's standing had been
hurt by two of his recent, high-
profile political moves — to join
with the Arab parties against the
government over the planned
east Jerusalem land expropria-
tions, which resulted in their can-
cellation; and his hard-line
approach to party rival David
Levy's political demands, which
led Mr. Levy and his supporters
to split from Likud.
In Mr. Netanyahu's defense,
Mr. Meridor also said: "Yitzhak
Rabin holds the position of prime
minister, and there's no doubt
that whoever starts from that po-
sition has a great advantage. The
public needs time to get used to
a new leader."
Israelis' opinion of the govern-
ment's performance, and their
voting preferences for the politi-
cal parties, were sharply contra-
dictory.
While Mr. Rabin won
the choice for prime
minister by the
slightest of margins,
he finished far ahead
of Mr. Netanyahu for
leadership ability.
Sixty percent rated the gov-
ernment "good," 40 percent "not
good." Environment Minister
Yossi Sarid was jubilant about
this result, saying, "I don't know
of another government in the de-
mocratic world that is in such
good shape after three years in
power."
Yet the Labor-Meretz govern-
ment and its Arab party sup-
porters, which presently have a
bare 61-seat majority in the
Knesset, would only get 53 seats
if the vote were held today, the
polls found. The Likud would be
more likely to form the govern-
ment.
The Rabin administration rat-
ed very highly on domestic issues
such as education, infrastructure
development, health and immi-
grant absorption. But its conduct
of the peace process with the
Palestinians was rated poor by
51 percent, and respondents vot-
ed thumbs down on its handling
of terror by a 2-1 margin.
What this showed, said Ms.