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.