Iran won, says 92% of Israelis in poll that challenges Netanyahu's narrative

A new poll in Israel has delivered a sharp rebuke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wartime narrative, with 92.1% of respondents saying Iran came out as the winner of the conflict and the subsequent deal with the United States.

The survey, published on Sunday, was conducted between June 17 and 20 by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in collaboration with the Agam Institute and questioned 3,644 Israelis aged 17 and above.

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A rather stern verdict from the electorate

The findings suggest deep public scepticism over the government’s handling of the war. According to the poll, 82.9% of respondents believed the six-week campaign against Iran weakened Israel’s long-term security, while 87.8% said Israel either failed to achieve its objectives or only partially met them.

Even among voters aligned with the right-wing bloc led by Netanyahu, 93.1% said Iran had won, underscoring how widely the assessment cuts across political lines.

Confidence in Netanyahu himself also appears to have eroded. The survey found that 72.5% of respondents did not believe his assertion that Israel achieved significant gains and removed an existential threat, and 56.4% rated his management of the war as “failed” or "poor".

Only 26.5% described his handling of the offensive as “good” or "excellent", while 17.1% called it "fair". The poll also pointed to a political cost for the prime minister; support for his premiership fell from 40.5% in early March to 29.4% in June.

The appetite for another bout lingers on

At the same time, the survey suggested that the public remains open to further confrontation with Iran’s allies.

Asked whether Israel should renew major military action against Hezbollah, including strikes in Beirut, even at the risk of a clash with US President Donald Trump, 48.2% said it should, while 20.9% disagreed and 30.9% were unsure.

The pollsters said the weighted sample was designed to reflect Israel’s population and carried a maximum margin of error of 2.2 percentage points at a 99% confidence level.

Across the Atlantic, the chorus grows louder

The Israeli findings come alongside a separate AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll in the United States, which found that 65% of American adults disapproved of Trump’s handling of issues involving Iran.

The survey, conducted between June 11 and 17, found approval at about one-third, in line with Trump’s overall job approval rating of 37%. It also showed a sharp partisan split, with large majorities of Democrats and independents disapproving and 28% of Republicans expressing dissatisfaction.

That US survey also found 53% of Americans believed US military action against Iran had exceeded appropriate limits, compared with 59% in March. Around four in ten Republicans said the response was “about right", while 37% thought it had not gone far enough.

The poll also showed only about one-third of Americans approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, with respondents pointing to rising prices and the administration’s focus on foreign policy.

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FAQs

Q1: What did the latest Israeli poll reveal about the Iran war?

Ans: A recent Israeli survey found that 92.1% of respondents believe Iran emerged as the winner of the war and the subsequent US-Iran deal.

Q2: How do Americans view Donald Trump's handling of Iran?

Ans: An AP-NORC poll found that 65% of Americans disapprove of Donald Trump's handling of Iran-related issues.