Seventy-three percent of the Israeli public would like Premier Golda Meir to remain in office after the national elections next Oct., according to the results of a public opinion poll published today. The Dahaf Public Opinion Institute which conducted the poll said that 27 percent replied negatively to the question, “Are you for Golda Meir staying on as Prime Minister?”
Defense Minister Moshe Dayan continued to be the favorite to succeed Mrs. Meir if she decides to step down. He was picked by 32.5 percent of the respondents to be her successor. Deputy Premier Yigal Allon was second, with 15.5 percent; Herut Chairman Menachem Beigin was third, with 6.5 percent; and Finance Minister Pinhas Sapir was favored by six percent. Foreign Minister Abba Eban was chosen by 5 percent of the respondents and Yitzhak. Rabin, the former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. was backed by 2.5 percent.
Sapir, who is reportedly Mrs. Meir’s personal choice to succeed her, gained in popularity since the last poll on the subject when only 3 percent of the public supported him for the Premier’s office. His gains may have been at the expense of Dayan and Allon who had the backing of 35.7 and 17 percent respectively in the last poll.
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