Sparkle back in our eyes
Reports of Syria operation welcomed by Israelis, boost Olmert's popularity
What did we want after all? Something that would bring a bloom back to our cheeks and a sparkle to our eyes? Something that would once again make us stand erect? Something reminiscent of the past, when all our aircraft returned safely to base and the foreign media leaked more and more details concerning the Israeli acts of heroism carried out in enemy territory?
We wanted another Entebbe. We wanted a nuclear plant bombing. We would have sufficed with any bold, sophisticated and justified maneuver in enemy territory. Something that the world looks upon in silent admiration. Something that no country condemns besides North Korea. Something over which there is no moral dispute. We can't remember the last time we were in such a position. We forgot how pleasant it was.
And indeed, the Israeli public is reveling, based on the findings of a survey conducted among the Jewish public on Monday evening by the Dahaf Institute headed by Dr Mina Tzemach.
According to the survey, it appears that the vast majority, 78 percent, supports this operation, which according to foreign sources saw Israel strike nuclear targets in Syria. And the key beneficiary is of course the prime minister: A total of 20 percent of the overall Jewish population admits that they have changed their views in favor of Olmert. Or in other words: A fifth now holds Olmert in higher esteem than it did 10 days ago.
Faith in IDF boosted
Indeed, how easy it is to buy our hearts. For an entire year Olmert struggled with his lack of popularity – in vain. The public turned its back on him in a way that until now seemed irreversible. Then, lo and behold, the prime minister's popularity rating soared by 10 percent: As to the question, how do you evaluate Olmert's performance as a prime minister? Some 35% responded "good", as opposed to 25 percent who gave this answer in a survey conducted on the eve of the New Year and published in the weekend supplement of Yedioth Ahronoth.
On Monday some 63 percent responded that Olmert's performance was "not good," which presented a drop of seven percent from the former survey. It appears that it is not only the Israeli Air Force that took off, according to foreign reports; the prime minister took off as well.
Even the IDF has improved its status in the eyes of the public. Some 41 percent of the overall Jewish population responded that their faith in the military has increased following foreign reports on the operation in Syria. Only three percent said that their faith in the military decreased.
And following the pride, the admiration and the restoring of confidence, what remains is the anxiety: 32 percent believe that the operation in Syria increases the chance of a war with Syria. Only 13 percent believe that such an operation is likely to mitigate the chances of a war.
