Israelis believe Netanyahu exploiting war for political survival

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
24 May 2025 08:26
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A new Channel 12 poll reveals widespread public skepticism toward Netanyahu’s leadership, with many blaming political motives for stalled captive deals.

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Israelis take part in a protest demanding the end of the war and immediate release of captives held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Tel Aviv, "Israel", Saturday, May 3, 2025 (AP)

A majority of the Israelis perceive Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as more concerned with preserving his political power than achieving critical national goals, such as winning the war or securing the release of captives, a new opinion poll aired by Channel 12 revealed.

When asked about Netanyahu’s primary focus, 55% of respondents indicated that he is intent on staying in power. In contrast, 36% said his main goal is returning the captives, while 9% remained unsure. When the question was rephrased to replace the captive objective with “winning the war,” the results remained nearly unchanged, reinforcing the perception of political self-interest.

Regarding the prolonged delay in securing a new captive deal, 53% attributed the lack of progress to political motives. Only 38% believed there were legitimate reasons for the delay, while 9% expressed uncertainty.

The poll also measured public response to Netanyahu’s recent press conference. A clear 62% of respondents said they were not convinced by his statements, while 34% said they were. The remaining 4% were unsure.

Qatargate scandal raises doubts about PM’s awareness

Amid the ongoing Qatargate scandal involving Netanyahu’s top aides allegedly working in Qatar’s interest, 58% of those surveyed said they did not believe Netanyahu’s claim that he was unaware of their actions. In contrast, 30% said they believed him, while 12% were uncertain. Among voters supporting the ruling coalition, 58% accepted Netanyahu’s version of events, with 27% expressing doubt.

Half of those surveyed said they believe the current government may attempt to cancel the upcoming 2025 elections under the pretext of a national emergency. However, 35% dismissed the possibility as unlikely.

Netanyahu's refusal to resign, call for early elections stirs discussion

This discussion emerged in the context of Netanyahu’s response to questions about his refusal to resign or call for early elections following the events of October 7, 2023.

“I am already being held accountable by the public every day. Every week, there’s the possibility of a no-confidence vote. And once a no-confidence vote passes, the public has already made its decision. That will also happen in elections, when the time comes,” Netanyahu claimed.

In defense of his decision, he asked rhetorically, “Do you want elections now? Do you want me to list what we’re up against right now? Is that what we need — a commission of inquiry right now — when all our soldiers and commanders will be running around dressing up as lawyers instead of arming themselves with artillery shells and tank munitions?”

Netanyahu alleged that “now, in the middle of a war,” is not the appropriate time for elections.

On Friday, he released a video message denying any intention to delay the vote, stating, “I hope [the elections] are held as scheduled and I will do everything so they don’t happen before then. But one thing I can tell you — they won’t take place after the scheduled date. This won’t happen. You know why? Because we are democrats. We believe the public has the right to choose, unlike our rivals and others. The elections will be held as scheduled, not later. That is nonsense.”

Golan's Gaza remarks stir limited electoral shift

The survey also addressed public reaction to comments made by Yair Golan, head of the left-wing party The Democrats. Golan had said that the Israeli government is killing babies in Gaza as a “hobby". While the remark sparked widespread backlash, it appeared to have limited influence on voter intentions.

According to the poll, 5% of respondents who had planned to vote for Golan now say they will not, while 7% who previously had no intention of voting for his party now say they will. An additional 8% maintained their support despite the controversy, and 69% said they never intended to vote for The Democrats regardless of the comment.

This comes shortly after families of Israeli captives held in Gaza accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging "Israel" into a pointless political war that "will lead to the death of captives and soldiers."

In a statement issued during a protest in Tel Aviv last Saturday, the families called for a comprehensive agreement that would secure the release of all captives and bring an end to the war in the Gaza Strip.

The families’ committee stated that “Netanyahu is serving an extremist minority, and the continuation of the war will kill the remaining captives,” adding that “military pressure will not bring them back, it will kill them."