INSS poll: 74% believe Israel has not achieved its war aims

Following the resignation of IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Southern Command Commander Major General Yaron Finkelman, the INSS conducted a snap poll of the Jewish Israeli population over the past day to understand their views on the war and the government more broadly.

The poll shows that 74% of Jewish Israelis do not believe Halevi's resignation signals the end of the war, and the same number do not believe Israel has achieved its stated war aims - freeing the hostages and "collapsing" Hamas' military and governmental capacity.

About 56% express low confidence that the government will choose Halevi's replacement as Chief of Staff based solely on professional considerations, and 76% believe that a state commission of inquiry should be established.

The Center for Data Collection and Analysis at the Institute for National Security Research also conducted a survey between January 16-20 among a representative sample of the population before the resignation of the Chief of Staff and the Southern Command Commander.

The poll found public confidence in the IDF declining to just 69% and confidence in the Chief of Staff standing at just 42%. 51.5%, a small majority, distrusted the IDF's internal investigations of its conduct during October 7.

Just 20% report a high degree of trust in the government and just 27% feel the same about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Just 23% report a high degree of trust in Defense Minister Katz.

Almost half of the population - 49% - believe that the war should be ended outright, and 67% support the current deal to release the hostages.

A similar poll by Channel 14 a few weeks ago also showed low levels of trust in the army, a desire for a more aggressive approach by the IDF, and a very low level of confidence in Halevi to conduct inquiries under his direction.