Posted on 08/25/2014 3:04:59 PM PDT by Dave346
Channel 2 reports survey showing nearly 50-point slide in prime minister’s approval rating
A poll released Monday evening showed a massive drop in the Israeli public’s opinion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s performance, as well as dissatisfaction with the way the government is handling the needs of southern communities battered by rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
The poll, commissioned by Channel 2 and conducted by Shiluv Millward Brown, showed that on August 25 — 49 days into Operation Protective Edge — only 38 percent of Israelis “supported” Netanyahu, while a full 50% were dissatisfied, according to a Monday news report.
The number represents a steep decline for Netanyahu and shows a steady deterioration over the course of Operation Protective Edge. According to the poll, just four days previously, on August 21, his approval rating was 55%; and three weeks previously, on August 5, his approval rating stood at 63%.
On July 23, shortly after the start of the ground operation in Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas’s “terror tunnels,” Netanyahu’s approval rating was 82%, according to Channel 2.
The poll results were released without information on sample size, methodology or margin of error, and a Channel 2 staff member reached on its news desk declined to give further details.
The poll also showed that 68% of Israelis think that the government has not been dealing well with the situation of citizens who live in Gaza-adjacent communities, as opposed to 24% who think that the government has been handling it well.
A majority of Israelis — 63% — opined that, given the situation, the school year in southern communities should not begin as usual on September 1; 18% said that school should begin across Israel despite the threat of rocket fire; and 15% said that school should not open at all across the country.
So stand back and let the rockets fly
According to the Old Testament polling, Moses saw a similar drop in ratings after leading the Jews out of Egypt and into the wilderness.
What do they want?
Are they dissatisfied because he won’t nuke Gaza or are they dissatisfied because he won’t surrender?
Perhaps they were behind him when it looked as though he was going to wipe out Hamas. Instead he has let too many interfere and to them it seems like what they wanted was not accomplished.
Well that is true, but what can/should he do?
Obama has openly tried to have him removed for years simply because BiBi stood up to him (”I shall not be MOCKED!”)
Meanwhile, many Israeli politicians oppose Bibi because they simply do. They do not understand the existential struggle in which they are enmeshed.
Same like US politicians, GOPe especially, sticking their heads in the sand or up their a$$.
BiBi could pull a Slim Pickens ala Dr Strangelove and let ‘er rip by riding la bomba all the way to the ground, but maybe there is another way?
Are they down because he’s *too* aggressive or not aggressive *enough*?
Why would anyone take this “poll” as serious? No internals....could have polled 3 people for all we know! Good grief....
No kidding.
Good question.
Much of the blame for Netanyahu’s drop in popularity can be directly attributed to Obama for his not significantly increasing US financial and military aid to Israel.
Unfortunately he is running a PR campaign instead of addressing the situation at hand...eliminate the threat!
He pulled back and went to a tit for tat scenario.
Not a good idea.
Israel cannot continue with rockets falling every few hours.
No nation can continue with that kind of abnormal life. The rockets must be stopped—and that apparently means Israel will be forced to go in on the ground and occupy some or all of Gaza.
Of course, the UN, the EU, and worst of all, the USA, will vehemently oppose such a move.
Netanyahu has been desperately trying to avoid it; but he simply may be forced into it.
Soft war doesn’t work.
Gaza should have been a wasteland weeks ago.
I agree. He should have also made UNWRA or whatever its called persona non-grata in Gaza
When it comes to poll paper I like Northern better than Charmin.
How many soft wars do we need to demonstrate before it is recognized that war is hell and nothing less.
Israel’s problem has nothing to do with American financial and military aid. Netanyahu’s entire political career has been talking tough, acting tough for a short time, but then not following through.
His is a failure of worldview. He really believes Arabs will start acting sane at some point.
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