By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A recent poll by the Israel Democracy Institute indicates that 66% of Israelis believe it’s time to end the war in Gaza, citing the endangerment of hostages as the primary reason. While negotiations begin on the first stage of a US peace proposal, the survey shows that among those wanting the war to continue, the top reason is to remove Hamas from power. Furthermore, a significant 66% of Israelis also believe Prime Minister Netanyahu should take responsibility for the October 7th attacks and resign, with notable differences in opinion based on political affiliation.
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Most Israelis think time right to end war, 45% want PM to quit immediately.
Okay, so let’s dive into what’s going on in Israel right now, based on what people are saying. A really striking takeaway is that a significant chunk of Israelis, and we’re talking a lot of people, seem to believe it’s time to wrap up the war. This isn’t just a whisper; it’s a pretty loud signal. And the feelings towards the current Prime Minister, Netanyahu, are pretty strong, too. Nearly half of the people surveyed apparently want him out of the picture, and they want him out *now*. That’s a pretty clear message about how they feel things are being handled.
It’s fascinating how much context matters here. The idea of peace and coexistence is definitely on the minds of many Israelis, just as it is for Palestinians. But, and this is a big “but,” the political landscape often gets in the way. There’s a perception that the right wing in Israel, they often say that Palestinians don’t really want peace, and unfortunately, the actions of some Palestinians, like the terror attacks, they seem to give those claims some weight. It’s a cycle, unfortunately, and it makes it difficult to see a way forward.
Thinking about the political future in Israel, it seems like there are strong opinions about how long Netanyahu can stay in power. The polls are not in his favor at the moment, but a year is a long time, and a lot can happen. Given that he was already facing corruption charges *before* the current conflict, and the wheels of justice in Israel move slowly, one can only imagine the added pressure. People are wondering if he’ll try to call early elections, maybe to try to control the narrative.
The discussion about the war is really where it gets intense. There’s a lot of debate about whether the current situation can even be called a war, with some people arguing it’s more akin to ethnic cleansing. There’s this sense of, “We need to end this now,” versus the push to continue the fight until Hamas is gone. It is worth noting that there is pressure from the US to halt the war.
The history of the region is crucial here. Someone pointed out that while Netanyahu’s time in office may have seemed peaceful at times, it was his policy choices, like ignoring the situation on the Gaza border, that led to the devastating attacks of October 7th. And even if things have been relatively quiet during his leadership, it’s not like life in Israel has been a walk in the park. People have grown up amidst constant threat of conflict, living through multiple wars.
It is also important to understand the political landscape in Israel. The right leans towards security, as does Netanyahu and his party. The left and center are looking to push against the political climate, but the voters have consistently chosen Netanyahu’s party as the more “peaceful” option.
Ultimately, the situation is complex, the emotions are raw, and the political future is uncertain. Public opinion appears to be shifting, especially concerning the war and the current leadership.