Poll: Most Israelis think politics behind reportedly pending firing of Gallant, appointment of Sa’ar

Over 60 percent of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reportedly pending decision to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and replace him with New Hope party chief Gideon Sa’ar is politically motivated, according to a television poll.

Asked whether the move was being done for political considerations or the good of the country, 63 percent of respondents in the Channel 13 news survey say the former and 24% the latter, with the remainder unsure.

In a separate poll from the Kan public broadcaster, 49% of respondents oppose firing Gallant while 26% are in favor, and 54% think it will harm Israel’s security versus 22% who believe axing incumbent the defense minister will improve it.

A fifth of respondents tell Kan they trust Sa’ar, compared to 59% who don’t and 21% who don’t know.

Both polls also forecast that a theoretical right-wing electoral list led by former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman would be the largest party if new elections were held.