Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has received a boost in recent surveys following Israel’s massive air campaign in Lebanon and a series of hits on senior Hezbollah figures. The survey by Maariv in Israel shows Likud gaining 25 seats, the highest result since the outbreak of war last October. However, when asked to choose a prime minister, former prime minister Naftali Bennett of the New Right party gained more support than Netanyahu. Despite criticism over Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza, the air campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon has boosted his ratings.
The conflict has seen more than 700 killed and thousands injured, with calls for extreme measures against Palestinians in Gaza from the far-right. Large protests in Tel Aviv have called for Netanyahu’s resignation, but the poll results suggest his decision to launch a major air campaign has resonated with the public. However, the air strikes have also resulted in civilian casualties, prompting condemnation from international organizations for possible war crimes. Israel’s vow to continue striking Lebanon despite calls for a ceasefire raises concerns about escalating tensions in the region.