Opinion polls show nearly three-quarters of the Israel public want far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign, with half the country also preferring earlier elections for the Knesset, as tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in recent weeks demanding new elections. Last days, the anti-government protesters have once again stormed the streets calling for the resignation of Netanyahu and demanding early elections in the country amid its ongoing war in Gaza.
Anti-government protesters have once again stormed the streets in Haifa calling for the resignation of Netanyahu (Photo: Haifa people’s protest)
The Kan public broadcaster and Channel 12 both published surveys on Sunday to coincide with the six-month milestone since the war started on October 7. Both polls showed the current government being ousted if elections were held immediately.
Kan reported that 42 percent of respondents said Netanyahu should resign immediately, and 29% that he should step down after the war concludes, making a total of 71% seeking his ouster. Of the rest, 21% said Netanyahu doesn’t need to resign and 8% said they don’t know. In addition, 44% said there should be elections within a few months, 22% want elections sometime over the coming year, and 26% said there should only be elections when they are next due, in October 2026. Another 8% said they don’t know.
The Channel 12 poll found that 50% believe there should be early elections, 41% were against such a move, and 9% said they don’t know. Respondents were also asked if the government is “doing enough to bring back the hostages,” to which 56% responded that it is not and 39% said it is. Another 5% said they don’t know. The poll also found that 49% think Netanyahu is acting out of political interests, compared to 35% who said he is acting for practical reasons. The remaining 16% said they don’t know.
The Kan poll gave a bloc of opposing parties a majority of 63 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while Netanyahu’s bloc had just 48 seats. The remaining nine seats would be held by Hadash-Ta’al and far-right New Hope. The Channel 12 poll showed that were elections to be held today, Netanyahu’s bloc would get 47 seats, while his opponents, among them Islamist Ra’am, would get 68 seats. The last five would be held by Hadash-Ta’al alliance.
On last Wednesday MK Benny Gantz, a member of the war cabinet, called for early elections, ramping up pressure on Netanyahu. Israel’s political system should agree to hold a national election in September, National Unity chairman Gantz said in a press conference. The statement marks the first time Gantz mentioned a specific month as a date for an election since joining Netanyahu’s government. Gantz said that he had spoken to political leaders in recent weeks on the topic, that he had updated the prime minister, and that he would “continue dialogue on the subject.”
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=31733
