The Israel Democracy Institute released the findings of a recent poll, showing that the Israeli public is forgiving of the military's performance during the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.
The military had apologized to Israelis for its security failures, taking responsibility for them, and deciding to engage in a comprehensive war in response to Hamas.
As a result, the military’s popularity increased from 85% to 87%, while the popularity of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government decreased to 18%.
Even among right-wing voters, the government’s popularity has dwindled, dropping from 43% in June of the previous year to 31%.
The public perceives the government as a failure, lacking the courage to acknowledge its responsibilities for these shortcomings, and consequently, it is losing the trust of the people.
Despite the massive public support rallying around the military and its war plans in Gaza, voices of reason have emerged, urging the cessation of the conflict and seeking an alternative path to put an end to the ongoing strife.
Some have warned that the conflict could spill over into the region, claiming the lives of thousands of Israelis, Palestinians, and Arabs.
While these voices remain limited, consisting of a select group of writers and opinion leaders, they mark an intriguing awakening.
Renowned author and art critic Rogel Alpher penned an article in Haaretz titled: “Again, Israel Is Choosing Death.” He lamented that Israel, as usual, was marching towards sacrificing hostages to the drums of war and making yet another catastrophic choice for death.
“It’s a perfect and horrifying welding of the Holocaust and the horrors of the Nazis to Hamas and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” he wrote.
“According to the new ethos, the slaughterers are not Hamas members alone, but all of Palestinian society, in Gaza and in the Palestinian Authority,” he explained.
