Majority of Israelis support national unity gov to secure Gaza hostages

Poll reveals 56% back a unity govt, while Netanyahu and Bennett remain top contenders for leadership

JERUSALEM:

A recent poll in Israel revealed that 56% of citizens are in favour of forming a national unity government focused on securing the return of hostages from Gaza and setting a date for parliamentary elections, according to a report by the Maariv newspaper.

However, 22% of respondents were against the proposal, while another 22% were undecided. The survey, conducted by the private Lazar Institute, sampled 503 Israelis and had a margin of error of 4.4%.

This poll comes amidst an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began in October with a Hamas-led cross-border attack that claimed 1,200 Israeli lives and saw around 250 people taken hostage. Israel's military response has resulted in the deaths of over 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

Negotiations, facilitated by mediators such as the US, Qatar, and Egypt, are ongoing to resolve the conflict and secure the release of the remaining 101 captives believed to be held in Gaza.

In addition to assessing public support for a national unity government, the poll also examined the political landscape. If elections were held today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party would secure 24 seats in the Knesset (parliament), making it the leading party. Benny Gantz's National Unity party would come in second with 21 seats, followed by Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid with 15 seats.

Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party was projected to win 14 seats. Overall, Netanyahu's political bloc would control 53 seats, while the opposition is predicted to hold 58, with Arab parties securing the remaining nine seats. A governing coalition requires at least 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.

Although elections are not due until 2026, the poll showed that 41% of respondents believe Netanyahu is the most suitable candidate for prime minister, closely followed by Gantz, who garnered 40% of support.

When compared with other politicians, Netanyahu fared better than Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman, but he was slightly outpaced by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who was viewed as the better candidate by 43% of respondents compared to Netanyahu’s 37%. Bennett, who led the country from June 2021 to June 2022, has not yet announced any plans to re-enter politics.