56.4% give Netanyahu negative marks on job performance

US President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 29 to discuss Middle East security. The two are pictured at a press conference held during the visit. [Getty Images]
US President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 29 to discuss Middle East security. The two are pictured at a press conference held during the visit. [Getty Images]

An overwhelming majority of Israelis view Iran as the winner of the recent war and ceasefire agreement, according to a poll reported by local media Sunday.

The survey, conducted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Agam Institute from June 17 to June 20, found that 92.1 percent of respondents identified Iran as the winner of both the war involving the United States and Israel against Iran and the subsequent ceasefire deal between Washington and Tehran. Some 82.9 percent also said the military operation had in fact weakened Israel's long-term security.

The results suggest deep public skepticism toward the government's claims about the war's outcome. Some 72.5 percent of respondents said they did not believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertion that "Israel gained significantly from this war and eliminated an existential threat." An additional 87.8 percent assessed that the war's objectives had either failed or been only partially achieved.

Negative sentiment toward Netanyahu's leadership also exceeded a majority. Some 56.4 percent of respondents said his management of the operation was poor or a failure. At the same time, a hawkish undercurrent was evident on future military action: 48.2 percent said they supported resuming large-scale military operations against Hezbollah, even at the risk of clashing with US President Donald Trump.

The poll surveyed 3,644 Israelis aged 17 and older using a weighted sample reflecting population proportions. The maximum margin of error was plus or minus 2.2 percentage points at a 99 percent confidence level.


hwshin@heraldcorp.com