Russian Jewish immigrants in Israel chose Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as \"Person of the Year 2001\" in a survey conducted by Dr. Alex Feldman of the Mutagim Institute. Sharon received 60% of the vote while Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu party) came in second place with 13%.
Israel\'s Russian Jewish population was also asked who had the most negative influence on the country this past year. 50% percent of the respondents chose Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. Peres \"scored higher\" than PLO leader Yasser Arafat who received 32% of the vote.
Feldman explained the results by saying that among the Russian Jewish population, Peres is seen as the person to blame for the current war with the Arabs. While the immigrants view Arafat as a Bin-Laden type, Peres is seen as a Jewish collaborator \"and in their book that is even worse.\"
Israel\'s Russian Jewish population was also asked who had the most negative influence on the country this past year. 50% percent of the respondents chose Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. Peres \"scored higher\" than PLO leader Yasser Arafat who received 32% of the vote.
Feldman explained the results by saying that among the Russian Jewish population, Peres is seen as the person to blame for the current war with the Arabs. While the immigrants view Arafat as a Bin-Laden type, Peres is seen as a Jewish collaborator \"and in their book that is even worse.\"