Two-thirds of Israelis want Netanyahu to leave politics, not seek reelection — poll

Around two-thirds of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should leave politics and not seek reelection, according to a new television poll.

That figure falls to 37% among voters for parties in Netanyahu’s right-religious bloc, 53% of who think Israel’s longest-serving leader should stick around, the Channel 12 news survey says.

Overall, 27% of poll respondents want him to compete in the next elections, versus 66% who say otherwise and 7% who do not know.

Asked who should lead a prospective right-wing electoral alliance, a plurality — 30% — say former prime minister Naftali Bennett, followed by Yisrael Beytenu party leader Avigdor Liberman and former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen at 10% each. Four percent of respondents say New Hope faction head Gideon Sa’ar and the remainder of respondents say none of them or don’t know.

A whopping 85% of respondents want a state commission of inquiry to probe the failures surrounding October 7, with only 6% opposed and the rest not knowing.

Additionally, in the wake of this week’s High Court ruling, 66% of respondents say ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students must enlist in the military versus 24% who say they do not, while the remaining 10% aren’t sure.

The survey was conducted by the Midgam polling firm with iPanel. The network didn’t say how many respondents were included or provide a margin of error.