Survey shows substantial support for renewal of Jewish settlement in Gaza after war

Channel 12 releases further findings from a survey it carried out on November 15, showing considerable support for the renewal of Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip after the war. Israel withdrew unilaterally from Gaza to the pre-1967 lines in 2005, removing some 8,000 Jews from their homes in 21 settlements.

Asked what should happen with Gaza at the end of the war, 32% of respondents said “Israel should remain permanently and renew Jewish settlement”; 30% said the enclave should be “given over to international trusteeship”; 14% said Israel should “maintain a permanent military presence”; 10% percent said it should be “handed over for rule by the Palestinian Authority”; and 14% said they did not know.

The TV anchors said respondents were also asked to make a direct choice as to whether or not they favored a renewal of Jewish settlement in Gaza, and 44% said they were in favor, while 39% were against. This finding was not shown on screen, however.

Asked whether their political stance has changed in the wake of the war, 53% said it had not changed; 36% said they had become more right-wing; 6% said they had become more left-wing; and 5% said they didn’t know.

Asked what should happen in terms of Israel’s political leadership after the war, 58% said new elections should be held, 19% said the current coalition should remain in office, 13% said an alternative government headed by a Likud politician other than Benjamin Netanyahu should be formed, and 10% said they didn’t know.

Findings from the survey broadcast on Thursday suggested that were elections to be held today, Netanyahu would be heavily defeated, with Benny Gantz’s National Unity party soaring.

The survey was conducted among 502 respondents by pollster Mano Geva and Midgam, and had a 4.4% margin of error.