Only 15% of Israelis want Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stay in office after the war on Hamas in Gaza ends, though many more still support his strategy of crushing the militants in the Palestinian enclave, according to a poll published on Tuesday
Quick Read
- Low Support for Netanyahu Post-War: Only 15% of Israelis wish for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remain in office after the conclusion of the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.
- Strong Military Strategy Support: Despite low support for Netanyahu’s continued leadership, a significant portion of the Israeli population supports his strategy to subdue Hamas militants in Gaza.
- Netanyahu’s Promise and War Impact: Following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 240 abductions, Netanyahu vowed to crush Hamas. The Israeli military response has caused extensive destruction in Gaza over the past three months.
- Hostage Recovery Efforts: Netanyahu emphasizes the military offensive as essential to secure the release of the remaining 129 hostages in Gaza. Around 100 hostages were previously released in a swap deal that also involved Palestinian prisoners.
- Public Opinion on Military Offensive: According to an Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) poll, 56% believe that continuing the military offensive is the best approach to recover the hostages, while 24% support a swap deal including releasing more Palestinian prisoners.
- Casualty Figures: Gaza health officials report over 22,000 Palestinian fatalities, with most of the population displaced. Israel claims to have eliminated about 8,000 Palestinian fighters and is determined to target Hamas leaders.
- Preference for Future Leadership: The poll indicates only a 15% preference for Netanyahu as prime minister post-war, with 23% supporting Benny Gantz and 30% expressing no preference for any leader.
- Polling Details: Conducted between Dec. 25-28 among 746 respondents, the poll has a 95% confidence level. A previous poll in December showed 69% of Israelis favoring immediate elections after the war’s end.
- Netanyahu’s Statement on War Duration: Netanyahu stated that achieving victory could take months, with his popularity significantly declining since Hamas’ surprise attack in October, marking the deadliest day in Israel’s 75-year history.
Reuters has the story:
Only 15% of Israelis want Netanyahu to keep job after Gaza war, poll finds
Newslooks- JERUSALEM, Jan 2 (Reuters)
Only 15% of Israelis want Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stay in office after the war on Hamas in Gaza ends, though many more still support his strategy of crushing the militants in the Palestinian enclave, according to a poll published on Tuesday.
Netanyahu promised to crush Hamas after its Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 abducted to Gaza. Israeli forces have laid much of Gaza to waste in their nearly three-month retalitory offensive.
Netanyahu has said such intense military pressure is also vital to ensure that the remaining 129 hostages still held in Gaza are returned after around 100 were freed in late November in a swap deal also involving hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
In the poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), 56% of those questioned said continuing the military offensive was the best way to recover the hostages, while 24% thought a swap deal including the release of thousands more Palestinian prisoners from Israel’s jails would be best.
More than 22,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to Gaza health officials, and most of the population displaced. Israel says it has killed some 8,000 Palestinian fighters and has vowed to hunt down Hamas leaders.
But a mere 15% want Netanyahu to be prime minister once the war is over, the poll showed. His political rival and present war cabinet partner, centrist Benny Gantz, garnered support from 23% of interviewees. Around 30% named no preferred leader.
The poll was conducted among 746 respondents between Dec. 25-28, with a 95% confidence level, the IDI said. A previous IDI poll in December found that 69% of Israelis thought that elections should be held as soon as the war ends.
Netanyahu said on Saturday it would be months before victory is achieved. Successive surveys have found his popularity has fallen sharply since the surprise October attack by Hamas that led to the deadliest day in Israel’s 75 years.
