Benjamin Netanyahu (file photo)
Israel's new right-wing government is about to complete its first 100days in power, a period marked by tension with Washington over how toadvance the peace process with the Palestinians. But the Israeli publicis showing cautious support for the nation's new leader.

A pollmarking hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's first 100 days inoffice gives him positive marks despite a deepening dispute with theUnited States over Jewish settlements. Mr. Netanyahu enjoys a 49percent approval rating, according to the poll published in the Israelinewspaper Ha'aretz. That is much higher than his dovish predecessorEhud Olmert, who offered major territorial concessions to thePalestinians. 

Mr. Netanyahu also scored 18 points higher than the womanhe narrowly defeated in February elections-former Foreign MinisterTzipi Livni, a strong advocate of Palestinian statehood.

UnderU.S. pressure, Mr. Netanyahu reluctantly endorsed the concept of aPalestinian state last month, but with tough conditions that wereflatly rejected by the Palestinians.

David Stern, a man on the street here in Jerusalem, supports the prime minister's cautious approach.

"Idon't actually expect that there will be a Palestinian state, notbecause of Israel's recalcitrance but because Palestinians don't seemto really want it," he said. "They want a state instead of Israel, nota state alongside Israel."

Mr. Netanyahu's support forsettlement expansion has strained Israel's all-important relations withWashington. But Israeli analyst Mitchell Barak says the prime ministerhas managed to walk a tightrope between U.S. pressure and the demandsof his nationalist coalition partners.

Barak says Mr.Netanyahu has made concessions: Israel says it will not build newsettlements, but will only allow "natural growth," and there are plansto dismantle about two dozen illegal settlement outposts in the WestBank.

"So that was a very big step-I think unfortunately thatthe U.S. didn't see it as such a big step. And he was able to get hiscoalition to agree to that and to not attack him. So from that point ofview I would give him a good score," he said.

The Israelipublic is divided on the settlement issue: The poll showed that 46percent of respondents support continuing construction in the West Bankeven if it means a confrontation with the U.S. - 44 percent were opposed.