A Channel 12 poll conducted ahead of the upcoming election campaign reveals significant public dissatisfaction with Israel's political leadership across multiple measures.
When asked about voting preferences, 49% of respondents support parties aligned with the anti-Netanyahu bloc, compared with 36% backing pro-Netanyahu coalition parties. Twelve percent remained undecided, and 3% plan to vote for parties outside the two main camps.
Overall, 64% rated the outgoing Knesset's performance as poor, while 33% described it as good. The assessment split sharply along partisan lines. Among opposition voters, 92% said the Knesset performed poorly, as did 62% of Arab-party voters. Coalition voters held a contrasting view, with 73% saying it performed well.
Public skepticism about lawmakers' motivations was pronounced. Seventy-four percent of respondents said most MKs primarily look out for their own interests, while only 17% said lawmakers work for public benefit. Nine percent were uncertain. Opposition supporters showed the highest skepticism at 94%, followed by 70% of Arab-party voters. Among coalition voters, opinions divided: 49% said MKs mainly serve themselves, while 38% believe they work on behalf of the public.
The poll found strong opposition to two major measures approved this week - the Basic Law: Torah Study and the law freezing arrests of draft evaders. Sixty-seven percent opposed the legislation, while 21% supported it and 12% had no opinion. Opposition voters overwhelmingly rejected it at 93%, as did 73% of Arab-party voters. Within the coalition camp, 45% supported the measures and 41% opposed them.
Assessments of Shin Bet Director David Zini were nearly evenly split, with 39% rating his performance negatively, 37% positively, and 24% unable to express an opinion. Opposition voters rated him negatively at 61%, as did 62% of Arab-party voters, while 67% of coalition supporters viewed his performance favorably.
Regarding potential emigration following another Netanyahu election victory, 68% said they would not consider leaving the country, while 23% acknowledged they would consider it. Among coalition voters, 90% rejected emigration. Opposition supporters were more divided, with 49% saying they would remain but 39% saying they would consider leaving. Only 19% of Arab-party voters said they would consider emigrating.
When placed on an ideological scale from 1 (far right) to 7 (far left), political figures received the following scores: Yair Golan at 6.0, Yair Lapid at 5.2, Benny Gantz at 4.4, Gadi Eisenkot at 4.2, Naftali Bennett at 3.8, Avigdor Lieberman at 3.3, Binyamin Netanyahu at 2.5, Betzalel Smotrich at 1.7, and Itamar Ben Gvir at 1.3.