A majority of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wartime decision-making is driven by his own personal interests, rather than the good of the country, according to a new poll.
Of those surveyed, 53% said Netanyahu’s personal interests were their main catalyst for driving the conflict between Israel and Hamas that has been raging since October 7, according to the latest Channel 13 election poll published on Sunday.
Only a third of respondents agreed that the Israeli leader had the country’s best interest in mind when making his decisions, according to the survey.
The poll also found that Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party would likely be toppled if elections were held today, about three months after the war with Hamas broke out, spelling more bad news for the sitting prime minister.
The Likud party under Netanyahu’s leadership would only win 16 seats, down from the current 32, according to the poll results.
A slim majority believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wartime decision-making is driven by personal interests, a poll finds. AP The poll found that the Likud party could win 21 seats if it were led by Economy Minister Nir Barkat. AFP via Getty Images
Meanwhile, Minister Benny Gantz – a centrist former chief of staff who joined Netanyahu’s war cabinet from the opposition after the shocking cross-border Hamas attack – would be the biggest winner in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
His National Unity party would be well positioned to form a coalition with 37 seats (up from 12 currently) if elections were held immediately, according to the survey.
Projections suggest former Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party would take third place with 14 seats.
Still, if Economy Minister Nir Barkat led the Likud party instead of Netanyahu, the poll found the conservative party could win 21 seats.
Only a third of respondents agreed that the Israeli leader had the country’s best interest in mind when making his decisions. REUTERS
Israelis last cast their votes on November 1, 2022, when Netanyahu achieved his historic victory in his fifth term against his main rival, Gantz.
The next elections are not scheduled until October 27, 2026, but many Israelis expect national elections to be called this year.
The latest poll adds to a growing number of polls showing Netanyahu’s popularity has fallen sharply in the three months since the start of the bloody war.
Former IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gadi Eizekon at the funeral of First Sergeant Major Gal Meir Eisenkot on December 8, 2023. Getty Images
A poll conducted earlier this month by the Israel Democracy Institute found that only 15% of Israelis wanted the current prime minister to remain in office after the war against Hamas concludes.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn