Most Israelis Oppose Pardoning Netanyahu, Poll Finds
Majority of Jews View Government as “Pretty Corrupt,” Survey Reveals,
A majority of Israelis—50%—oppose President Yitzhak Herzog granting a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a poll published by the Israel Democracy Institute and reported by the Jerusalem Post.
The survey asked respondents whether Herzog should pardon Netanyahu to “stop the criminal proceedings against him so that he can continue to be prime minister without any distraction.” In response, 41% said they supported such a pardon, while the remainder were either opposed or undecided.
Both Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel largely rejected the idea of clemency for the prime minister. However, the issue proved deeply divisive along political lines among Jewish Israelis. Support for a pardon was strongest on the right, with 58% of right-leaning Jews in favor, compared to only 7% of those on the left.
The poll also gauged public perceptions of government integrity. Respondents were asked to rate the current Israeli leadership’s level of corruption on a scale from one (“very corrupt”) to five (“not corrupt at all”). Nearly 56% characterized the government as “very” or “relatively corrupt.”
Looking ahead, the survey revealed widespread apprehension about future security threats. A majority of Israelis anticipate renewed military conflict in the near term. Hezbollah is seen as the most likely trigger, with 71% of respondents believing a confrontation with the Lebanese Shia militant group is likely next year. Iran follows closely at 69%, then Hamas at 53%, and the Houthis at 47%.
Additionally, 64% of Israeli Jews expect a new intifada in the West Bank in the foreseeable future—an outlook shared by less than half of Israeli Arabs.
