The following polls were released on motzei Shabbos, 14 Elul, in Israel TV’s Meet the Press program.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s satisfaction rating has increased significantly, from 32% in 2016 to 51% at present.

59% of respondents are opposed to halting Shabbos construction of the Tel Aviv pedestrian bridge while 29% support the decision by Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz to halt the chilul Shabbos and 12% have no opinion.

Deputy Health Minister Litzman, who led the table in the previous poll, is down to ninth place with only 34% support. Yisrael Cohen on Twitter: “The only popularity that is important to Litzman is with his rav, the Gerre Rebbe, and he is in first place, much more than in the past.”

The Meet the Press survey on Channel 2: 74% of the public are dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the crisis in Gaza. A large survey of Channel 2 on the functioning of government ministers – 57% satisfied with Justice Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Ayelet Shaked, 51% satisfied with Education Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Naftali Bennet, 51% with PM Netanyahu, 50% with Transportation Minister (Likud) Yisrael Katz, 47% with Public Security Minister (Likud) Gilad Erdan, 41% with Finance Minister (Kulanu) Moshe Kahlon, 40% Minister of Culture & Sports (Likud) Miri Regev, 34% with Defense Minister (Yisrael Beitenu) Avigdor Lieberman, 23% with Minister of Welfare & Social Services (Likud) Chaim Katz, and 17% with Shas Chairman Minister of the Interior Aryeh Deri.

The storm in Tel Aviv over the Chilul Shabbos to build the Yehudit pedestrian bridge: Mayoral candidate Asaf Zamir to Channel 10: “It was decided to build the bridge when it is least disruptive, and this is the weekend. The Government of Israel made political and mainly religious considerations. It does not suit our needs.”

Channel 10 Corresponded Sefi Ovadia: Minister Yisrael Katz hopes to be the person who will succeed the prime minister, since the relationship with the chareidim is more important to him. Katz knows that in the Israeli political system he needs the chareidim to form a government.

News commentators and hosts Amnon Abramovich and Rina Matzliach on Channel 2: Yisrael Katz is not a novice in the political field. He is currently building his leadership as the next Likud chairman and candidate for prime minister, and as such, he understands that the alliance with the chareidim is vital to him.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)