Most Israelis want US President George W. Bush to beat his Democrat challenger John Kerry in the US presidential election on November 2, according to an opinion poll conducted by Tel Aviv university.

A total of 49 percent of people questioned said they preferred Bush, with just 18 percent wanting Kerry to win, China Daily reported Thursday, citing foreign agemcies as the new source. 

Seven percent believed the two candidates were equally good for Israel, while two percent said they were equally bad for the Jewish state. The rest offered no opinion.

At the same time, 42 percent of those questioned believed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon should avoid supporting Bush, while 33 percent thought he should openly back the incumbent.

The poll confirmed that a clear majority of Israelis, Jewish and Arab, continue to back Sharon's plan to pull out of the Gaza Strip -- with 60 percent for, and 34 percent against.

Source: Xinhua