The poll, conducted by Haaretz to mark the fourth anniversary of Sharon’s tenure as Prime Minister, showed that less than half the public, 48.6%, believes that Sharon’s proposal to expel Jews from Gaza and northern Samaria was initiated based on “considerations of the good of the state.”
One-eighth of the general public believes that the real reason for the expulsion plan was due to the criminal investigations that were being carried out against Sharon and his sons for corruption and bribery. Amidst the right-wing, however, this proportion reaches almost one out of three voters.
The poll came up with some startling statistics in relation to the left-wing public: On the one hand, an overwhelming 84% of people who voted Meretz in 2003 believe that Sharon is corrupt. Yet not one of these respondents believes that the criminal investigations against Sharon were the reason he initiated his expulsion proposal.
Haaretz's Yossi Verter sums up the survey results as follows: "Israelis (62 percent) recognize hat he [Sharon] is corrupt. The millions did not fall from the clear blue sky into his bank accounts. But Israelis (80 percent) also think he is a leader - and as everyone knows, a leader is needed. Israelis (62 percent) think he is predatory. Only 44 percent of the respondents think he is honest. Honesty, it turns out, it the quality that least sticks to Sharon. In other words, the public is clear-eyed with respect to Sharon. It knows who he is and what he is, but is prepared to turn a blind eye as long as he leads the country in the right direction."
One-eighth of the general public believes that the real reason for the expulsion plan was due to the criminal investigations that were being carried out against Sharon and his sons for corruption and bribery. Amidst the right-wing, however, this proportion reaches almost one out of three voters.
The poll came up with some startling statistics in relation to the left-wing public: On the one hand, an overwhelming 84% of people who voted Meretz in 2003 believe that Sharon is corrupt. Yet not one of these respondents believes that the criminal investigations against Sharon were the reason he initiated his expulsion proposal.
Haaretz's Yossi Verter sums up the survey results as follows: "Israelis (62 percent) recognize hat he [Sharon] is corrupt. The millions did not fall from the clear blue sky into his bank accounts. But Israelis (80 percent) also think he is a leader - and as everyone knows, a leader is needed. Israelis (62 percent) think he is predatory. Only 44 percent of the respondents think he is honest. Honesty, it turns out, it the quality that least sticks to Sharon. In other words, the public is clear-eyed with respect to Sharon. It knows who he is and what he is, but is prepared to turn a blind eye as long as he leads the country in the right direction."