Cancer boosts Olmert’s ratings

JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his turbulent administration got a shot in the arm with rising approval ratings yesterday as his office projected business as usual after his cancer diagnosis.

The dramatic announcement on Monday that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer comes with the government preparing for a Middle East peace conference and battling to contain scandal, amid rising tensions with Gaza and enemy Iran. Yet opinion polls published in Israel’s two top-selling newspapers chalked up greater popularity for the 62-year-old prime minister who had been saddled with the worst ratings in national history since taking office in 2006.”This Tuesday, he has not changed his daily schedule at all,” cabinet secretary Oved Yehezkel told reporters.From now on, two doctors will accompany Olmert whenever he is more than 20 minutes away from hospital, his office said.A senior physician will also remain on call at all times to treat him and once a year he will give the public information about his health.In Israel, no head of government is obliged to release regular bulletins on his health despite criticism over such lack of transparency when Olmert’s predecessor Ariel Sharon suffered a debilitating stroke in January 2006.An editorial in Israel’s Haaretz newspaper praised Olmert’s decision to go public with his illness, which “breaks with the tradition of his predecessors hiding their ailments”.Indeed, adding cancer to the list of trials and tribulations facing Israel’s 12th prime minister seems to have earnt him a little more affection.A survey published in the top-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper found that 61 per cent of Israelis considered his dramatic public announcement that he was sick and would have to undergo surgery courageous.Sixty-one per cent said they were moved by Olmert’s plight and 41 per cent described his performance as prime minister as good, up from 35 per cent a month ago, Yediot reported.An overwhelming majority – 87 per cent – said he should continue on the job while only 11 per cent thought he should suspend himself from duty.A survey published in the rival Maariv newspaper found that 70,2 per cent of Israelis wanted Olmert to continue with his normal duties, while only 18,9 per cent thought he should take leave and 7,7 per cent resign.”I don’t think he will become more popular because he’s sick.People may have a little bit more empathy for him but the view of his rule won’t change,” Efraim Inbar, political science professor, told AFP.Opinion polls still reveal that right-wing opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu continues to be the person most Israelis believe is suited to the job of prime minister, with Defence Minister Ehud Barak in second place.Nampa-AFPYet opinion polls published in Israel’s two top-selling newspapers chalked up greater popularity for the 62-year-old prime minister who had been saddled with the worst ratings in national history since taking office in 2006.”This Tuesday, he has not changed his daily schedule at all,” cabinet secretary Oved Yehezkel told reporters.From now on, two doctors will accompany Olmert whenever he is more than 20 minutes away from hospital, his office said.A senior physician will also remain on call at all times to treat him and once a year he will give the public information about his health.In Israel, no head of government is obliged to release regular bulletins on his health despite criticism over such lack of transparency when Olmert’s predecessor Ariel Sharon suffered a debilitating stroke in January 2006.An editorial in Israel’s Haaretz newspaper praised Olmert’s decision to go public with his illness, which “breaks with the tradition of his predecessors hiding their ailments”.Indeed, adding cancer to the list of trials and tribulations facing Israel’s 12th prime minister seems to have earnt him a little more affection.A survey published in the top-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper found that 61 per cent of Israelis considered his dramatic public announcement that he was sick and would have to undergo surgery courageous.Sixty-one per cent said they were moved by Olmert’s plight and 41 per cent described his performance as prime minister as good, up from 35 per cent a month ago, Yediot reported.An overwhelming majority – 87 per cent – said he should continue on the job while only 11 per cent thought he should suspend himself from duty.A survey published in the rival Maariv newspaper found that 70,2 per cent of Israelis wanted Olmert to continue with his normal duties, while only 18,9 per cent thought he should take leave and 7,7 per cent resign.”I don’t think he will become more popular because he’s sick.People may have a little bit more empathy for him but the view of his rule won’t change,” Efraim Inbar, political science professor, told AFP.Opinion polls still reveal that right-wing opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu continues to be the person most Israelis believe is suited to the job of prime minister, with Defence Minister Ehud Barak in second place.Nampa-AFP