Poll: Almost 50% of Israelis believe Netanyahu is acting out of political motives

Six months into the war in Gaza, almost half of Israelis (49 percent) believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is acting out of political interests, according to a Channel 12 poll.

But it seems his main opponent, National Unity chair Benny Gantz, is losing his lead over the prime minister amid ongoing frustration with the government’s handling of the war and its failure to secure the release of over 100 hostages held captive since October 7.

Asked whether the government is “doing enough to bring back the hostages” 39% of respondents say yes and 56% say no.

The poll shows 35% of Israelis would vote for Gantz if elections were held today, compared to 29% for Netanyahu. A further 39% say they would not vote for either candidate.

Channel 12 notes that the gap between Gantz and Netanyahu was 18% two months ago.

In terms of Knesset mandates, the poll gives Gantz’s National Union party 32 seats, Netanyahu’s Likud party 19 seats, and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party 15 seats.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party, MK Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope and the Labor party all fall below the electoral threshold of four mandates.

Overall, the Channel 12 poll shows that were elections to be held today, Netanyahu’s bloc would get 47 seats, while his opponents would get 68 seats.

Amid ongoing tensions on the northern border with Lebanon since October 8, 46% of respondents believe Israel should initiate a military campaign against the Hezbollah terror group, while 37% would prefer a diplomatic solution.