Israelis reject Trump’s ceasefire with Iran – poll

New poll shows two-thirds of Israelis disapprove of President Trump’s decision to impose a two-week ceasefire, halting the war with Iran.

By World Israel News Staff

Israelis strongly reject the two-week ceasefire with Iran, a new poll shows, with nearly two-thirds of respondents objecting to Israel halting military operations against the Islamic Republic.

The poll was conducted last week by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is the first survey of Israelis on the subject since the truce went into effect before dawn last Wednesday.

Regarding Lebanon, more than 61% of Israelis think the truce should not be extended to the fighting with Hezbollah, a central Iranian demand in its talks with the US, according to the poll, which was conducted by researchers at Hebrew University’s Agam Labs.

The poll was based on a sample of 1,312 Israelis interviewed between April 9 and 10, with a margin of error of 3.2%.

Despite strong opposition to the ceasefire agreement, which also bars Israeli attacks on Iran, Israelis are divided over how Israel should respond.

When asked what Israel should do about Iran, 39% said Israel should defy the United States, ignore the truce, and resume its attacks, while 41% said the country should honor the ceasefire, and 19% said they were unsure, the poll found.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public standing in Israel took a hit from the ceasefire, the poll found.

According to the Hebrew University survey, Netanyahu’s standing among Israelis has fallen since the start of the Iran war, with 34% of Israelis now preferring him as prime minister, compared with 40% at the beginning of the conflict.

Netanyahu and his coalition must face votes this year, with elections required to be held no later than October 27.

Pre-election polling has generated mixed signals regarding the likely outcome of the vote, with the Direct Polls firm consistently showing the current coalition maintaining its majority, while recent polls by Lazar Research show a coalition of centrist and left-wing opposition parties gaining enough seats to form a new government.