Poll: Most Israelis Don't See Gadi Eisenkot as Right-Wing, Trust Arab Mayors Over Him

A new poll conducted by Direct Polls for i24NEWS reveals that 88% of Israelis do not consider Gadi Eisenkot, a prominent opposition figure, to be a right-wing politician, with only 8% holding that view. This perception holds true even among opposition voters, where 86% do not classify him as right-wing.

The survey also explored public trust following a controversy where Arab local authority heads claimed Eisenkot stated Mansour Abbas, head of the Ra'am party, would be part of the government, a claim Eisenkot denied. When asked whom they believed more, 48% of respondents sided with the Arab local authority heads, while 34% believed Eisenkot. The remaining 18% were undecided.

Regarding perceived damage to Israel's image, the poll identified several recent events. The film 'Nezar' was cited by 27% of respondents, followed by the 'Armored Personnel Carrier Affair' (26%), the Gaza hunger campaign (24%), and a statement by Democratic Party chairman Yair Golan about 'killing babies as a hobby' (11%).

Significant differences emerged when analyzing responses by political bloc. Coalition voters predominantly pointed to the armored personnel carrier affair (44%) as the main cause of reputational damage. Conversely, opposition voters identified the Gaza hunger campaign (35%) as the most damaging event.

The poll surveyed 525 adults aged 18 and over on September 17, 2026, using a digital system combined with a panel. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.2% with a 95% confidence level.