Israelis Narrowly Back Government on Dropping Lavi

TEL AVIV — Israelis approve by a narrow margin their government’s decision to ax the Lavi fighter plane, according to a public opinion poll published today.

Forty-nine percent of Israelis surveyed support the coalition government’s decision to cancel the $1.5-billion project and 45% oppose the move, according to the Dahaf poll in Yedioth Aharonoth newspaper.

The findings followed a week of increasingly violent protests by Israel Aircraft Industries workers pressuring the government to reverse its 12-11 vote.

Despite efforts of Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir’s right-wing Likud bloc to blame its coalition partner, the Labor Party of Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, for the Lavi decision, the poll showed only a minor drop in Labor’s support.