Likud slides, opposition parties gain in latest poll

Separate survey shows sharp drop in optimism among Israel’s public

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition dropped four seats while the opposition has gained three, according to a new Maariv poll published on Friday.

Minister-without-portfolio Benny Gantz’s National Unity Party gained one seat, and for the first time in a while, the Labor Party has crossed the electoral threshold with 3.6% of the vote.

Accordingly, if an election today were to reflect these trends, the coalition would drop three seats to 47, while the opposition would gain three and would control 64 of the Knesset’s 120 seats.

Anoter poll conducted by the Jewish People Policy Institute showed that about 33% of Jews in Israel are not convinced that Israel is the place where their children or grandchildren should live.

The institute identified a significant decrease in the sense of optimism of the Israeli public, both in relation to the state personally, accompanied by a decrease in confidence in an Israeli victory in the Gaza war.

The percentage of Jews who are “very optimistic” about the Israel’s future dropped from 48% in the previous index, conducted at the end of March, to just 37%.

The survey also showed that 70% of the public has a low level of trust in the government. Trust in IDF commanders also dropped significantly from 75% in March to 59% in May but a large majority, 70%, believes that following the resignation of intelligence corps. chief Maj.Gen. Aharon Haliva, the IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi should also resign.

“Unfortunately, the pessimistic findings reflect a reasonable reading of reality by the Israeli public,” assessed Prof. Yedidia Stern, president of the Jewish People Policy Institute, who warned: “In the last year and a half, cracks have appeared in the cohesion of Israeli society, in the sense of personal security, in the alliance with the United States and in the relationship with Jews around the world, and Israelis are worried.”