Majority of Israelis Believe Solo Strike on Iran can Succeed

by Aharon Lapidot

Israel Hayom-New Wave Research poll finds 52.4% of the Israeli Jewish public is in favor of an independent strike on Iran's nuclear facilities • Some 52.5% support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position regarding tensions with the U.S. over Iran.

An aerial photograph of the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear plant | Photo credit: AFP

A new survey has found that the majority of Jewish Israelis believes the government's hard-line position regarding the Iranian threat is justified and that if need be, Israel is capable of mounting a unilateral strike on the Islamic republic's nuclear facilities. 

The Israel Hayom-New Wave Research poll found that 52.4 percent of the Israeli Jewish public is in favor of an independent strike on Iran's nuclear sites and 68.8% believe an Israeli military strike on Iran would be successful.

The survey was held on Nov. 13 among 500 Israeli Jews ages 18 and over, and has a statistical margin of error of +/- 4.4%.

Some 26.8% said they opposed a unilateral strike on Iran, while 20.8% said they had no opinion the matter. An additional 17.1% were skeptical about the Israel Air Force's ability to independently strike Tehran. 

Asked whether Israel is right to oppose the brewing deal between Iran and the West, 65.5% said Israel should continue to oppose the deal, while 16.2% said that Israel should support an agreement with Iran. Some 18.4% of those polled said they had no opinion the matter.

More than half of those interviewed -- 52.5% -- said they supported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position against the U.S. over the Iranian nuclear negotiations. 

The prime minister's policy garnered support from participants across the political spectrum, and in all age groups and income brackets, with significant support noted especially in the religious sector (84.4%). Some 57.6% of those defining themselves as ultra-Orthodox said the supported Netanyahu's policy on Iran as well.

26.4% of those polled said they believe Netanyahu should handle the tensions with the U.S. differently.

As for the defense establishment's decision to reevaluate the need to distribute gas mask kits to the public following Syria's announcement that it has surrendered its chemical warfare facilities to the U.N., 58.7% of Israelis said they disagreed with the decision, while 23.2% said there military's assessment on the matter was correct. 

Overall, Netanyahu's approval rating remained favorable and steady this week, with 45.1% of the public saying they believe he is the best candidate to head the Israeli government at this time. 

Asked about other party chairpersons' ability to lead the nation at this time, those polled pegged Labor Chairwoman MK Shelly Yachimovich's approval rates at 10%, followed by Habayit Hayehudi Chairman MK Naftali Bennett (7%), Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman (5.4%), Hatnuah Chairwoman MK Tzipi Livni (3.8%) and Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid, with 2.6%.

Aharon Lapidot

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=13333

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