Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir’s handling of Israeli policy in the Persian Gulf war has sent his approval rating to an all-time high of 49.8 percent, according to a poll by the Public Opinion Research Institute published Thursday in Ma’ariv.
In a PORI poll in December, the prime minister’s performance was approved by only 26.8 percent of the respondents.
Shamir’s popularity has rubbed off on other members of his government since the war began, even those not directly involved with security.
Defense Minister Moshe Arens’ rating climbed from 31.8 to 54.5 percent since the Gulf crisis began. Housing Minister Ariel Sharon went from 37.4 percent approval in December to 49.6 percent now.
Foreign Minister David Levy is approved by 34.2 percent, up from 26.7 percent in December.
Finance Minister Yitzhak Moda’i remains the least popular of the senior Cabinet ministers. Nevertheless, his rating increased by 10 points, from 18.1 to 28.4 percent since the war started.
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