Poll Shows More Support For Peres

A public opinion poll published Friday showed growing support for Prime Minister Shimon Peres, far ahead of opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

A survey by the Gallup organization for the daily newspaper Maariv found that 54.4 percent of Israelis would favor Peres if elections were held now, while 31.2 percent would elect Netanyahu.

Two weeks ago a similar poll showed 42.4 percent of adult Israelis would vote for Peres and the growing support was seen as incentive for early elections.

Peres has so far refrained from calling elections earlier than the planned October date, mainly concerned he would be seen as taking advantage of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.