A Panels Politics poll of the voting public has revealed some surprising results. 44% of respondents express support for the appointment of MK Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi) as Minister of Justice as opposed to 43% that oppose the appointment. In the race for Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom (Likud) leads with 29% of the public’s support.

49% of respondents feel that Labor party leader Yitzchak Herzog (Labor) should remain outside of the coalition while only 18% feel the party should join. 21% however back the idea conceptually if PM Netanyahu takes out the ‘right-wing extremists’ from the coalition as well as accepting some of the Labor party platform.

The respondents were also asked to rate the suitability of incoming senior cabinet ministers. 40% feel Defense Minister (Likud) Moshe Ya’alon is very suited. He enjoys the highest rating followed by Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu) as Finance Minister, with 38%.

Regarding incoming Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Bayit Yehudi) only 14% feel he is ‘very suited’ for the post while 25% feel he is ‘suited enough’ and an additional 25% feel he is ‘not really suited and 29% feel he is ‘not at all suited’.

Regarding Aryeh Deri (Shas) as Minister of the Economy, 58% of respondents fee he is ‘not at all suited’ while only 8% feel he is ‘very suited’. Regarding Yoav Gallant (Kulanu) serving as Minister of Housing, 32% feel he is ‘not at all suited’ for the post while only 7% feel he is ‘very suited’.

The poll also asked about who is suited to serve as foreign minister. Only 11% feel that PM Netanyahu should hold on to the portfolio for himself. Enjoying the most support is MK Silvan Shalom with 29% and the lowest rating for that post was received by Yisrael Katz (Likud) with 1%. Gilad Erdan (Likud) Received 24% and Dr. Yuval Steinitz (Likud) 12%.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)