A poll published by Israel's Channel 12 revealed a growing crisis of confidence facing Benjamin Netanyahu's government, after its results showed that all ministers received negative ratings and that Netanyahu's own popularity declined.
The poll revealed that all ministers evaluated received a majority of negative reviews, an unprecedented finding that reflects the extent of the decline in Israelis' confidence in the government's performance. Education Minister Yoav Kisch received the worst rating, with 69% of respondents giving him a negative assessment compared to only 19% who considered his performance good. He became the only minister to receive a majority of negative reviews even among voters in Netanyahu's own camp, a figure the poll described as "unusual for a minister in the governing coalition," especially with the school year drawing to a close.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also received a similarly negative rating, with 69% of respondents viewing his performance as poor, compared to only 25% who gave him a positive assessment. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir garnered 63% negative and 32% positive ratings, while Defense Minister Yisrael Katz received 61% negative and 30% positive ratings. Justice Minister Yariv Levin received 60% negative and 27% positive ratings, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar received 54% negative and 29% positive opinions.
As for Netanyahu himself, 58% of participants gave his performance a negative rating, while only 38% thought he was performing his duties well.
The poll addressed the ongoing debate within the governing coalition regarding who deserves credit for the return of the Israeli captives, following an exchange of statements between Netanyahu and Smotrich. The results showed that a majority of Israelis do not attribute this achievement to the government, with 58% of respondents believing that US President Donald Trump is primarily responsible for the return of the living captives, while only 28% credited Netanyahu's government.
Regarding the future of the political leadership, the poll revealed a widening gap between Netanyahu and public opinion, with 58% of respondents saying they would prefer a different prime minister, compared to only 33% who believe Netanyahu should continue in office. These figures reflect the continued decline in Netanyahu's public support as Israel prepares for new political challenges, with the opposition bloc holding 68.5 seats compared to 51.5 for the ruling coalition.
The decline in public support wasn't limited to the government's performance; it extended to its legislative projects as well. The poll revealed strong opposition to the "Basic Law," which the Knesset passed in its first reading and which stipulates that Torah study is a fundamental value. According to the results, 66% of Israelis oppose proceeding with this law, compared to only 21% who support it. This reflects the widening gap between the ruling coalition and public opinion on one of the most controversial issues in Israel.
The poll results indicate that Netanyahu’s government is not only facing criticism related to the management of security and political files, but also a comprehensive crisis of confidence that includes the prime minister and most of his ministers, at a time when calls for a change of leadership are increasing, and the coalition’s ability to mobilize popular support for its policies and legislation is declining, which puts the government in front of increasing political challenges in the next stage.
