Aridor’s Standing with Israelis Reaches New Low, While Arens’ Star is Rising, Poll Shows

Finance Minister Yoram Aridor’s standing with Israelis reached a new low, according to a public opinion poll published in Haaretz today. The poll showed Defense Minister Moshe Arens to be the Cabinet’s new rising star while the popularity of Premier Menachem Begin slipped, but only slightly.

Aridor, who is apparently held responsible for the soaring inflation rate and reduced cost-of-living allowances, won approval from only 25.8 percent of the 1,200 persons polled compared to 42.2 percent in April, 1982 and 33.4 percent when he took office in April, 1981. In the latest poll, 44.7 percent of the respondents expressed dissatisfaction with his performance.

Arens, Israel’s former Ambassador to Washington was the subject of a national poll for the first time since he became Defense Minister last January, replacing Ariel Sharon. The results showed that he has the support of 48.5 percent of the public. Only 5.7 percent expressed dissatisfaction and 37.1 percent was undecided.

SLIGHT DROP IN BEGIN’S POPULARITY

Begin’s popularity dropped from 55.3 percent two months ago to 54.5 percent. The most popular Likud minister is Deputy Premier and Housing Minister David Levy who enjoys the support of 60.9 percent of those polled. But the most popular Cabinet member of all its Education Minister Zevulun Hammer of the National Religious Party who is approved by 71.5 percent of the public.

Aridor defended his economic policies in a radio interview over the weekend. He said he would not submit to the demands of striking government-employed doctors or to criticism by manufacturers and teachers because his duty is to protect the public.

He claimed that university professors who recently blasted his economic policies were identified with the opposition parties. He rejected the Labor Alignment’s demands for his resignation, saying “they wanted me to resign from the day I was appointed. It is their job to be against me.”