Israel Close to Gaza 'Invasion'

Funny how they call it an invasion even though Gaza is not an independent country. It still belongs to Israel. Anyway...

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel moved closer to invading Gaza, saying Thursday it had wrapped up preparations for a broad offensive after Palestinian militants fired about 100 rockets and mortar shells across the border in two days.

Israel's foreign minister brushed off a call for restraint from Egypt's president, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made a direct appeal to Gaza's people to pressure their leaders to stop the barrages. But the attacks showed no signs of ending. By nightfall, three rockets and 15 mortar shells had exploded in Israel.

Olmert issued his appeal in a rare interview with the Arabic language satellite channel al-Arabiya, saying Israel would not hesitate to respond with force if the attacks continued.

"I am telling them now, it may be the last minute, I'm telling them stop it. We are stronger," he said.
AP

Israelis Want Olmert to Quit

Should Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert resign or continue in his position?

Continue	32%
Resign	62%
Other replies	6%

If Olmert resigns what would you prefer: advancing the elections for the Knesset or the formation of a new government headed by whoever is chosen to lead the Kadima party?

Advance elections	51%
New Kadima-headed government	32%
Other replies	17%

Source: Maagar Mochot / Israel Radio
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 512 Israeli adults, conducted from May 14, 2008. Margin of error is 4.7 per cent.

Israel Wants Olmert Out

Soon the Winograd Commission will be presenting its final report. If the report includes harsh criticism of Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert’s functioning during the Second Lebanon War, would you support or oppose a demand that he resign from his post, even if the commission does not make personal recommendations?

Support	66%
Oppose	20%
Not sure	14%

Source: Peace Index Project / Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research / Evens Program in Mediation and Conflict Resolution of Tel Aviv University
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 595 Israeli adults, conducted on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2, 2008. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.

Israel: Olmert Should Step Down

In another two weeks, the Winograd Committee will issue its final report. In light of the report, should Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert...

Remain as prime minister	14.7%
Resign as prime minister	59.4%
Advance elections	17.4%
Don’t know	8.5%

In light of the report, should Labour party leader and defence minister Ehud Barak...

Remain in government	17.6%
Resign along with all other Labour ministers	46.8%
Advance elections	25.2%
Don’t know	10.5%

In light of the report, should foreign minister Tzipi Livni...

Resign as foreign minister	34.8%
Remain as foreign minister	48.0%
Don’t know	17.2%

Source: Shvakim Panorama / Israel Radio
Methodology: Interviews with 498 Israeli adults, conducted on Jan. 2, 2008. No margin of error was provided.

Israel: No Trust in Government Leaders Attending Annapolis Conference

On the eve of Annapolis, do you have confidence in the three leaders of the government?

	Yes	No
Ehud Olmert	24%	75%
Ehud Barak	29%	68%
Tzipi Livni	52%	44%
The entire leadership	27%	69%

Should borders, Jerusalem, and the "right of return" be negotiated already at the start of the talks?

Yes	35%
No	63%

Source: Dahaf Institute / Yediot Ahronot
Methodology: Interviews with 500 Israeli adults, conducted on Nov. 22, 2007. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.

Israelis Give Netanyahu Large Lead in Poll

Who do you want to be the next prime minister?

	Jul. 2007	Jun. 2007
Benjamin Netanyahu	36%	34%
Ehud Barak	22%	25%
Ehud Olmert	8%	5%

Do you want elections for the Knesset to be advanced?

	Jul. 2007	Jun. 2007
Yes	46%	50%
No	44%	44%

Source: Dahaf Institute / Yediot Ahronot
Methodology: Interviews with 500 Israeli adults, conducted on Jul. 27, 2007. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.

Israelis Barely Support Joint Likud-Kadima Government

Do you support the Likud joining in a national emergency government headed by Ehud Olmert with Benjamin Netanyahu as treasury minister?

Yes	45.5%
No	43.2%
Other	11.3%

Should Ami Ayalon join the government?

Yes	46.7%
No	30.9%
Other	22.4%

Source: Shvakim Panorama / Israel Radio
Methodology: Interviews with 501 Israeli adults, conducted on Jun. 26, 2007. No margin of error was provided.

Israel: Netanyahu Leads Barak by 9 pts.

Who do you want to be the next prime minister?

Benjamin Netanyahu	34%
Ehud Barak	25%
Ehud Olmert	5%

Do you want elections for the Knesset to be advanced?

Yes	50%
No	44%

Source: Dahaf Institute / Yediot Ahronot
Methodology: Interviews with 503 Israeli adults, conducted on Jun. 14, 2007. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.

Israel: 73% Want Olmert to Resign

Do you think Ehud Olmert should resign as prime minister?

Yes	73%
No	17%
Not sure	10%

Source: Teleseker / Maariv
Methodology: Interviews with 501 Israeli adults, conducted on May 1, 2007. Margin of error is 4.6 per cent.

Israel: Olmert & Peretz Should Resign

In light of the Winograd Report, should prime minister Ehud Olmert resign?

Yes	69%
No	15%
Other	18%

In light of the Winograd Report, should defence minister Amir Peretz resign?

Yes	74%
No	12%
Other	14%

Source: Maagar Mochot / Israel Radio
Methodology: Interviews with 411 Israeli adults, conducted on Apr. 30, 2007. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.

Israel: Olmert Under Fire

Israel: Peretz & Olmert Should Quit

Should defence minister Amir Peretz also resign in the wake of the resignation of Dan Halutz?

Yes	70.9%
No	26.0%
Other	2.1%

Should prime minister Ehud Olmert also resign in the wake of the resignation of Dan Halutz?

Yes	50.2%
No	42.9%
Other	6.9%

Source: Geocartographia / Israel Radio
Methodology: Interviews with 534 Israeli adults, conducted on Jan. 17, 2007. Margin of error is 4.3 per cent.