A poll published on Channel 12 News on Saturday night finds that most right-wing Israelis oppose the new government and even prefer a fifth election.
In contrast, most Israelis who defined themselves as center-left expressed support for the Lapid-Bennett government. Among the general public, 46% preferred the unity government over elections.
The poll also shows that the public is not optimistic about the government's chances of survival: 42% think it will be sworn in but will not last, 16% think it will not be sworn in at all and only 24% give it a chance and responded that it will be both sworn in and persevere.
The poll, by the Midgam Institute, was conducted among a representative sample of the entire population in Israel aged 18 and over. When asked what their preferred option was - 46% of participants said they preferred the Lapid-Bennett government, 38% said they preferred a fifth election and 15% said they did not know.
Of those polled who defined themselves as right-wing, 32% preferred the government of change, 55% preferred a fifth election and 13% said they did not know. In contrast, among those who defined themselves as center-left, 72% said they were in favor of the Lapid-Bennett government, 14% preferred a fifth election and 14% said they did not know.
On the question "Who is the main culprit behind the fact that a right-wing government was not formed?" - 41% of all respondents see Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the main culprit, 24% blame Naftali Bennett, 12% blame Bezalel Smotrich, 6% answered "someone else" and 17% answered that they do not know. Among respondents who defined themselves as right-wing, 32% blamed Netanyahu, 37% blamed Bennett and 9% blamed Smotrich.
The poll also shows that the Israeli public does not support the signing of a coalition agreement with the Ra'am party. 40% of poll participants said they support it, compared to 48% who oppose it. Of those who defined themselves as right-wing, only 25% supported the move and 64% opposed it. Of those who define themselves as left-wing, 67% supported and 24% opposed.