A new poll shows that more than half of Israelis support continuing Israel's air assault against militant targets in the Gaza Strip.

A Palestinian boy stands next to destroyed houses after an Israeli missile strike in the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, 01 Jan. 2009

According to the Haaretz-Dialog poll released Thursday, 52 percent of respondents favor continuing the air campaign.  Nineteen percent say the Israeli army should send in troops on the ground.

Another 19 percent of Israelis say the government should negotiate an immediate cease-fire.

The poll also shows that Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and his Labor Party have made the biggest gains in public opinion.

According to the survey, more than half of Israelis are satisfied with Barak's performance compared to just 34 percent six months ago.

Also if parliamentary elections were held today, the survey says the left-wing Labor Party would tie with right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also has received a popularity boost, with a 33 percent popularity rating this week compared to an average of 14 percent.

Professor Camil Fuchs of Tel Aviv University supervised the survey conducted Wednesday.