Shock poll: Israelis prefer Netanyahu over Gantz as prime minister
The new data comes after war cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot joined his party leader Benny Gantz in calling for new elections in the last quarter of 2024
A new poll has revealed Israelis prefer Benjamin Netanyahu over Benny Gantz as prime minister.
The surprising result by Channel 12 revealed 36% voted Netanyahu as the most suitable prime minister against Benny Gantz who received 30% of the votes in a run-off between the two.
Gantz’s National Unity Party is still, however, leading in the polls with 25 seats, against Likud’s 21 seats. This marks a significant decrease for Gantz’s party, which were polling around 30 seats for months following October 7.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party received 13 seats in the poll, while Labour, who just elected Yair Golan as new party leader, surged to 10 seats.
Yisrael Beitenu and Shas also receive 10 seats while Jewish Power would get nine seats. Religious Zionism, Ra’am and Hadash-Ta’al got five seats each while United Torah Judaism stands at seven.
Elections?
The new poll came after war cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot joined his party leader Benny Gantz in calling for new elections in the last quarter of 2024.
“I think the final quarter of this year is pivotal for rebuilding trust. Once the intensive fighting process in Gaza concludes in a few weeks, we need to establish a mutually agreed-upon election date. If not, make every effort to democratically expedite elections and rekindle trust in all political parties,” he said at the Meir Dagan security and strategy convention on Thursday.
Eisenkot also lashed out at Netanyahu’s government for “failing miserably to achieve all its goals,” such as normalisation with Saudi Arabia, reducing cost of living, and stopping Iran’s nuclear programme.
The war cabinet minister also accused Netanyahu of “pushing false delusions that we’ll destroy three (Hamas) Battalions in Rafah and then return the hostages,” predicting it will take “three to five years for a re-stabilisation of the Gaza Strip.”
The “complete lack of faith between citizens and Israel’s Knesset and Israel’s government” is “very troubling,” he added.
The Likud party dismissed Eisenkot’s criticism, saying that Gantz and Eisenkot are “looking for excuses to finish the war without achieving its goals, and to resign from the government in the middle of the war.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.