Poll: 70% of Israelis don’t trust gov’t, 66% think it’s more concerned with special interest groups than general public

Asked if they trust the current Netanyahu government, 70% of respondents said they do not, compared to 27% who said they do. Even among coalition voters, just 51% said they trust the government, compared to 36% who said they do not, according to a poll aired on Channel 12.

Asked what impact the budget passed this week by the coalition will have on Israelis’ pockets, 54% of respondents said it’ll harm their personal financial situation, 20% said it will not have an impact and only 7% said it will improve their standing.

Asked who the government is more concerned with — ultra-Orthodox Israelis and other sectors affiliated with the coalition or the entire public — just 24% of respondents said the latter, with 66% of the public saying the former groups.

Asked about the judicial overhaul legislation that the government has been advancing, just 34% of respondents said they back it, compared to 50% who said they do not and 16% who said they weren’t sure.

Asked who is better suited to serve as prime minister, 35% of respondents said Benjamin Netanyahu, compared to 26% who said Opposition chair Yair Lapid, and 33% who said neither of them, according to a poll aired on Channel 12.

When Netanyahu was polled against National Unity chair Benny Gantz, the former received 34%, compared to the latter, who received 26% — a particularly low figure for Gantz, who has long polled ahead of Lapid. Thirty-five percent of respondents said neither Netanyahu nor Gantz is suited to serve as premier.

National Unity’s No. 2 Gadi Eisenkot fared slightly better against Netanyahu, receiving 29% and dropping the “neither” category to 29%.

Polled against the left-leaning Democrats chief Yair Golan, Netanyahu received 37%, compared to the former’s 21%, while 37% said neither of them.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett is the only politician polled who performed better than Netanyahu in a head-to-head matchup, receiving 38%, compared to the current premier’s 31%, while 24% of respondents said neither of them is suited for the position.