New Israeli polls show Netanyahu’s coalition on the brink, fueling questions about whether escalating conflicts are part of a political survival strategy.
Does the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turn to war every time his grip on power slips? New polls released by a major Israeli publication reveal that Netanyahu’s coalition is hanging by a thread. According to Israel’s Channel 13 survey, Netanyahu’s coalition would barely manage 50 seats if elections were held today, far from the 61-seat majority needed in the 120-member parliament. His own Likud party, meanwhile, is trailing — projected to win only 24 seats. In contrast, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett‘s emerging faction appears to be gaining ground with 27 seats.
And that’s not even all. A poll by Israel’s national broadcaster shows an even grimmer picture for Netanyahu’s coalition. Bennett’s new party is shown securing 23 seats while Likud could shrink to just 20. These numbers reflect a growing dissatisfaction. According to the Channel 13 poll, 58% of Israelis now say they want fresh elections and just 30% want Netanyahu to finish his term. In fact, just yesterday, Netanyahu’s coalition narrowly survived an opposition-backed bid to dissolve the parliament. The vote margin was very close — 61 against the bill, 53 in favor. That bill could have triggered snap elections — elections that, as Israeli polls project, Netanyahu would likely lose.
This is not the first time military action has coincided with political trouble for Netanyahu. Remember in January, when his popularity hit another low? Israel launched Operation Iron Wall, a full-scale military operation in the West Bank. The timing then as well raised eyebrows. And now, with public support waning and rivals rising, Netanyahu appears to be falling back on a similar playbook: escalation, conflict, and war — with fresh attacks on Iran.
Is this just mere coincidence, or part of a calculated strategy? Or is it simply a case of Netanyahu trying to shield himself amid mounting legal troubles?