Polls show Israelis upbeat but cautious

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israelis celebrated the Jewish New Year with festive family meals after sundown Wednesday, with polls reflecting a relatively optimistic mood despite growing concerns about the economy and security.
The holiday marked the start of the year 5765, calculated according to the Jewish calendar as the time since the biblical account of creation.
The coming year promised to be another turbulent one, with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon determined to withdraw troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip and hardline opponents warning he could plunge the country into civil war.
Israelis will also try to reverse the economic downturn, largely a result of four years of fighting with the Palestinians. Unemployment has risen to more than 10 percent and reports say one-third of Israeli children live below the poverty line.
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