Peace Index - June 2019
- More than half of the Jewish public in Israel prefer that, following the coming elections, the government will be formed by the Likud. More than half also prefer a government that includes the Likud and the Blue-White parties, or a government that does not include the ultra-Orthodox parties. However, in the opinion of the Jewish public, the government that has the best chances of being formed is a right-wing government, led by the Likud and including the ultra-Orthodox parties. Most of the Arab public support a left-wing government but agree with the opinion that the right-wing has the best chances of forming the government.
- If the Likud wins the elections, the Jewish public is split between preference for Netanyahu and preference for another Likud Knesset member to head the government. Among Likud voters, there is sweeping support for Netanyahu.
- Among the Jewish public, a large majority feel that Netanyahu should have returned his mandate to the president and not have called for new elections, in contrast to the opposite opinion among the Arab public. The personal rivalry between Netanyahu and Lieberman is perceived as the main reason that a government was not formed after the last elections.
- More of the public believe that the decision of the attorney general to postpone Netanyahu’s hearing stemmed from diversion tactics and pressure and not from professional considerations. A clear majority oppose legislation that would enable Netanyahu to avoid going to trial while serving as prime minister.
- The public is divided between those who support Netanyahu’s policy of avoiding a wide-ranging military operation in Gaza and those who oppose this the policy and prefer a decision to conduct such an operation, and those who are interested in a long-term agreement with Hamas.
- A two-state solution still gains more support than the other existing possibilities, although the general estimation is that the existing situation will continue, despite the opposition of the great majority. Similar percentages are expressed by the Jewish public for both the possibility of the two-state solution and for annexation.
