Fifty-nine percent of the Israelis believe their Prime Minister Ehud Olmert should resign or be suspended until the police investigation against him is completed, a poll published Monday revealed.

Only one-third of the public believe he should stay in office, according to the survey conducted by local daily Yedioth Ahronoth and the Dahaf Institute headed by Dr. Mina Tzemach.

In addition, 60 percent of the public do not trust Olmert's statement that he did not take bribes, while 22 percent trust him.

Olmert denied late Thursday night that he took bribes from an American businessman during a campaign, and announced he would only resign if indicted.

Olmert made the statement in an impromptu press conference in Jerusalem, shortly after the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court's decided to revise the comprehensive gag order placed on the police investigation against him.

The prime minister is also perceived by the public as paralyzed in his ability to lead. Up to 60 percent of the public said he is incapable of leading diplomatic moves due to the police investigation against him.

The poll also shows that the vast majority of the public expressed trust in the law enforcement system.

The respondents - a representative sample of 500 civilians - were asked to comment on the claim that the police, the State Prosecutor's Office and the state comptroller are harassing Olmert.

The result shows that 70 percent of them did not agree with this statement, while 26 percent said they believed it was true.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2008)