It’s not won. In a poll published this Sunday, Israelis overwhelmingly believe that Iran has emerged stronger from the conflict in the Middle East. This poll highlights deep public dissatisfaction with the conduct of the war, but also strong support for military action in Lebanon. Among those surveyed, 92% believe that Iran won, or is the country that benefited the most from the confrontation, while 83% consider that Israel’s long-term security has been weakened.
The survey was carried out between June 17 and 20 among 3,644 people by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in collaboration with the Agam Institute, after the conclusion of a framework agreement between the United States and Iran with a view to ending the conflict. The text, of which Israel is not a signatory, provides for the end of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
Iranian-American memorandum of understanding rejected
Voters from the right-wing bloc, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s electoral stronghold, are the most severe, with 93% of them believing that Iran won the confrontation. Opposition to the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding is also largely in the majority: 63% of respondents reject it, compared to only 12% who approve of it. Nearly three-quarters of respondents, 72.5%, say they do not believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements on the successes of the campaign, and 56% consider his management of the offensive “failed” or “mediocre”. Support for his continuation as prime minister fell to just over 29% in June, compared to 40.5% at the start of March.
An offensive in Lebanon against Hezbollah desired
The survey highlights strong support for the use of force for the security of Israel: 48% of respondents say they are in favor of a major military offensive in Lebanon against Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite movement supported by Iran, even at the risk of a confrontation with Washington, while that only 21% are opposed to it.
The publication of this poll coincides with the launch today in Switzerland of Iranian-American negotiations with a view to a final agreement to put an end to the regional conflict. Iran said the situation in Lebanon, where Israeli bombing and clashes with Hezbollah were massive on Friday and Saturday – with each side accusing the other of violating the truce – would be the “main” subject of these discussions. In retaliation for Israeli strikes, Tehran announced on Saturday that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime passage for global oil trade.
