Shock poll: Israelis prefer Netanyahu over Gantz as prime minister

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.”