Netanyahu, Zamir’s spar over Gaza operations leaves IDF chief as winner in the public eye
The poll measured public satisfaction with three key figures at the center of decision-making: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir currently holds the most public support in Israel, according to a poll conducted for Maariv by Lazar Research, led by Dr. Menachem Lazar in cooperation with Panel4All.
The poll measured public approval with three key figures at the center of decision-making: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Zamir.
The survey found that Zamir enjoys the highest approval rating among the three. Half of the public (50%) expressed satisfaction with his performance, 34% were dissatisfied, and 16% had no opinion.
Among opposition voters, 63% said they were satisfied with the chief of staff, but nearly half of coalition voters (42%) also expressed satisfaction.
IDF chief Eyal Zamir, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister Israel Katz seen during a military briefing, in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 30, 2025 (credit: MAAYAN TOAF/GPO)
Netanyahu and Katz under heavy pressure
Netanyahu received a lower approval rating: 36% of the public said they were satisfied with his performance, while 59% were dissatisfied and 5% were undecided. Among coalition voters, however, 86% expressed satisfaction, compared to just 11% among opposition voters, with 70% of opposition supporters saying they were undecided.
Katz scored similarly low numbers: 32% of the public said they were satisfied with his performance, 57% were dissatisfied, and 11% were undecided. Within the coalition, 72% expressed satisfaction with Katz, while only 19% of opposition voters said the same.
The poll comes as tensions between the prime minister and the chief of staff reach an all-time high, with the main issues centered around Gaza and the operations that would come in the near future.
The two men got along great for a whole year until Zamir crossed Netanyahu over his Gaza war policy last week.
Following Zamir’s “sin” of speaking his mind regarding the new policy – which most defense officials believe will either lead to the deaths of the remaining hostages, many more soldiers, and Palestinian civilians, as well as harm Israel’s legitimacy without really weakening Hamas, or all of the above – he appears to have become the prime minister’s new main target for blame.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.
