Jerusalem, 22 June (H.S.): A new public opinion survey conducted in Israel has claimed that a majority of citizens are dissatisfied with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the conflict with Iran. According to the survey, 56.4 per cent of respondents rated Netanyahu's management of the war against Iran as unsuccessful or poor, while only 26.5 per cent viewed his performance positively.

According to Türkiye's Anadolu Agency, citing a survey conducted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem between June 17 and 20 among 3,644 respondents and published by The Times of Israel, 56.4 per cent described Netanyahu's performance during the conflict as unsuccessful or poor, while 26.5 per cent gave him a favourable assessment.

The survey also found that 72.5 per cent of Israelis do not believe Netanyahu's assertion that Israel achieved a major victory in the conflict and eliminated the country's existential threat.

According to the findings, 92.1 per cent of respondents believe Iran succeeded in gaining the upper hand during the conflict, while 82.9 per cent said the war had weakened Israel's long-term security.

The survey further revealed that 87.8 per cent of respondents believe Israel failed to fully achieve its declared military and strategic objectives. At the same time, Netanyahu's popularity as Prime Minister has declined significantly, with his approval rating falling from 40.5 per cent in March to 29.4 per cent in June.

Public opinion remained divided on broader security issues. According to the survey, 48.2 per cent of respondents support resuming a large-scale military operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon, while 20.9 per cent oppose such a move.

Earlier on Sunday, talks between the United States and Iran commenced at the Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland. The discussions are being held under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which aims to establish a permanent framework for ending the US-Israel war against Iran.

The agreement reportedly includes provisions to end hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and lift the US naval blockade imposed on Iran.

Analysts believe that if public dissatisfaction reflected in such surveys continues, political pressure on Netanyahu and his government is likely to intensify in the coming months.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar