Majority of Israelis unhappy with leaders, says poll

JERUSALEM: More than three-quarters of Israelis are unhappy with their leaders after a series of scandals embroiling Prime Minister Ehud Olmert s government, according to a poll released on Sunday. Some 78 percent of those polled are unhappy with the nation s political leadership compared with eight percent who are satisfied, said the survey published in the mass-selling Yediot Aharonot daily. Some 32 percent of those questioned cited corruption as the main reason for their discontent, followed by lack of experience cited by 12 percent, egoism cited by 10 percent and working to help the rich cited by five percent. The figures mark a sharp increase from the same survey carried out a year ago, in which 55 percent of Israelis were unhappy with their leadership compared with 17 percent who were satisfied. The ratings of Olmert and his government have slid significantly since officially taking office last May, due to the inconclusive war on Lebanon s Hezbollah militia last summer and a series of scandals that have wracked top government officials. Last week Olmert – who already faces investigations over alleged illegal real estate deals and abuse of influence – was accused of unlawfully appointing scores of political cronies. He has not been charged in any of the affairs. Sunday s poll questioned 547 people and had a 4.5 percent margin of error.