Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yaakov Amidror at the Dan Cesarea Hotel in Israel. Photo: wiki commons.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political position has received a significant boost thanks to his coalition agreement with Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz, a new poll of Israeli public opinion has revealed. More Israelis, 39.8 percent, said they supported the newly formed unity government, which was brokered early Tuesday morning, than the 31.9 percent who opposed it. Twenty-eight point four percent said they were undecided.

The Israel Hayom poll was conducted by the New Wave Research company and questioned a representative sample of the Jewish population in Israel.

When asked who they felt is most suitable to serve as the next prime minister of Israel, 39.8 percent of respondents said Netanyahu, a significant uptick compared to an Israel Hayom poll conducted two weeks ago in which 29 percent said they would vote for Netanyahu.