Poll: 83% Blame Netanyahu for October 7 Failures, Opposition Bloc Leads

A new "Uvda" poll reveals that 83% of Israelis attribute some level of responsibility to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the failures leading up to the October 7th Hamas attacks. Specifically, 58% believe he bears significant responsibility, while another 25% assign him partial blame. The survey also indicates that the bloc opposing Netanyahu continues to hold a lead, with 40% of respondents stating they would vote for parties in that bloc if elections were held today, compared to 34% for the coalition bloc. When asked about suitability for prime minister, 57% favored a candidate other than Netanyahu, versus 33% who preferred him, though this gap has slightly narrowed from the previous week.

Security and the cost of living are identified as the top issues influencing voters across both political camps. However, significant divides emerge on other key issues. The conscription of the ultra-Orthodox, the preservation of democracy, and responsibility for the October 7th failures are topics that sharply differentiate coalition and opposition supporters. For instance, 89% of opposition voters see the October 7th failures as a major influence on their vote, compared to 60% of coalition voters.

Despite the broad consensus on Netanyahu's responsibility for October 7th, the intensity of blame varies. Among opposition supporters, 91% assign significant blame, while only 25% of coalition supporters do. Notably, even within the coalition camp, a majority of 76% attribute at least some responsibility to the Prime Minister, with only 13% absolving him entirely.

The poll, conducted by Midgam Research, surveyed 502 respondents and has a maximum margin of error of 4.4%. It highlights that while 12% of the electorate remain undecided, the opposition bloc maintains a consistent advantage in voter preference and in the public's perception of who is better suited to lead the country.