(Anadolu photo)
JERUSALEM – Forty-nine percent of Israelis support postponing any ground invasion in Gaza, a recent poll conducted by the Lazar Research Institute for Israeli daily Maariv said.
The poll, which involved a random sample of 522 Israeli adults, with a margin of error or 4.3 percent, also revealed that 49 percent of Israelis believe that Benny Gantz, leader of the National Unity Party, is the most suitable figure to lead the country’s government.
The newspaper reported that 29 percent of Israelis said the army must immediately launch a large-scale ground operation in Gaza, while 22 percent said they did not have a specific answer.
The newspaper noted that in a poll last week, the majority of participants, 65 percent, supported a large-scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
"It is likely that the developments that have occurred since then regarding the issue of the abductees (in Gaza), which rose to the top of the agenda, have great weight in this change," the newspaper said.
Within less than a week, Hamas released four female prisoners for “humanitarian reasons,” including two who hold US citizenship.
Meanwhile, 28 percent believed that current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should remain in his post, while 23 percent said they did not have a specific opinion.
The poll revealed a sharp collapse in the popularity of the Likud party led by Netanyahu, compared to a significant rise for the National Unity party.
The poll expected the National Unity Party to win 36 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, if elections were held today, compared to the 12 seats it holds now.
The Likud Party is likely to win only 19 seats, compared to the 32 seats it has. (Anadolu)
