Photo by
Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS-IL on 9 March, 2025
72.5% of Israelis Say Netanyahu Should Resign Over October 7
Jerusalem, 10 March, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- The majority of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should take responsibility for the events of October 7 and resign, either immediately or after the war, a survey released on Sunday has found.
The poll, conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) revealed that 72.5% of respondents believe Netanyahu should step down — 48% immediately and 25% after the war. Additionally, 87% said he should at least accept responsibility for the events of October 7, regardless of whether he resigns.
The survey questioned 759 Israeli adults — 605 Jewish and 154 Arab respondents — between Feb. 25-28 and had a margin of error of 3.56%.
A breakdown revealed notable differences between Jewish and Arab respondents.
Among Jewish Israelis, 71% called for Netanyahu’s resignation at some point, with 45% favoring an immediate step-down and 26% advocating for resignation after the war. In contrast, 78.5% of Arab respondents called for Netanyahu to resign with 59% preferring this happen immediately.
Political orientation played a significant role in shaping opinions. Among left-leaning Jewish respondents, 83.5% favored immediate resignation, compared to 69% in the center and just 25.5% on the right. When considering resignation at any point, the support jumps to 96.5% on the left, 89.5% in the center, and 56.5% on the right.
The survey also examined attitudes toward the second stage of the Israel-Hamas hostage agreement, which includes a complete cessation of hostilities, withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for all Israeli hostages. A solid 73% of respondents said they supported continuing negotiations to secure the hostages’ release, despite the potential concessions involved.
Support also remained high across different political camps, with over half of right-wing respondents now favoring the deal. This marks a notable shift, as previous surveys showed right-wing opposition to such negotiations. Among Likud voters, 61.5% now support moving forward with the deal, while opposition remains stronger among other coalition party voters.
The survey also assessed public perceptions of key actors in implementing the first stage of the hostage agreement. Netanyahu received the lowest approval, with only 41.5% of respondents saying he contributed to the deal’s success, compared to 54.5% who said he did not. In contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump received the highest level of public recognition, with 85.5% crediting him for his role in the negotiations. Other key contributors, including Israel’s military pressure at 69%, the Mossad and Shin Bet negotiators at 65%, and pressure from hostages’ families at 60%, were also widely acknowledged.
The survey also examined perceptions of Trump’s proposal for voluntary emigration from Gaza, which has sparked renewed debate on potential war-ending solutions.
A majority of 64% agree that the plan, regardless of its feasibility, has reinvigorated discussions about the war’s resolution. Among Jewish respondents, 73% believe it has contributed to the debate, compared to just 23% of Arab respondents. Across political lines, support for the idea remains relatively high, with 69% of left-wing, 70% of centrist, and 77% of right-wing Jewish respondents agreeing that the Trump plan has refocused the national conversation.
At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 59 remaining hostages, 36 are believed to be dead.
Beyond Netanyahu’s political future, the survey gauged public sentiment on Israel’s broader socio-economic and security outlook. The results indicate a prevailing sense of pessimism. Only 33% of respondents expressed optimism about Israel’s economy, while 63.5% were pessimistic. Among Jews, optimism was highest on the right at 45%, followed by the center at 25% and the left at 17%.
Among Arabs, only 26% were optimistic. Just 30% of respondents were optimistic about Israel’s social unity, compared to 67% who were pessimistic.
Right-wing respondents were the most hopeful at 40%, while centrists and left-wing respondents expressed lower confidence at 23% and 14% respectively.
