Majority of Israelis back annexation of Judea and Samaria, Gaza

New poll shows most Israelis want the Netanyahu government to apply Israeli sovereignty not only to the Gaza Strip but also to Judea and Samaria.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

An absolute majority of Israelis support plans proposed by several government ministers to annex and resettle the Gaza Strip, as well as calls within the ruling coalition to apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, a new poll shows.

The poll was conducted by Direct Polls on July 31, surveying 564 Israeli adults, including both Jews and Arabs. It was published by Israel’s Channel 14.

According to the survey, 56% of Israelis back responding to growing international recognition of unilateral Palestinian statehood by applying Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, with 38% opposed.

More than half (54%) say the 2005 Gaza disengagement, during which Israel demolished all 21 Israeli towns in the Gaza Strip and withdrew all military forces from the enclave, led to the October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel. By contrast, 43% of respondents say it did not lead to the 2023 invasion.

Israelis are more sharply divided on calls by some government ministers to apply Israeli sovereignty over the Gaza Strip, with a narrow majority (51%) backing annexation and resettlement of the coastal enclave, compared to 47% who oppose such a move.

Respondents were similarly split on how Israel should act in the event that White House special envoy Steve Witkoff is unable to push both sides closer toward a hostage deal during his trip to the Mideast.

Just over half (52%) say Israel should conquer the entire Gaza Strip, while 48% believe Israel should continue to wait for a deal with Hamas.

Less than one-third (32%) of Israelis say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is properly handling Israel’s response to international support for unilateral Palestinian statehood, compared to 57% who have an unfavorable view of Netanyahu’s response.

Regarding the government’s push to fire Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, 52% of Israelis support her removal, while 44% oppose it.