Israelis divided on Hezbollah ceasefire, only 20% of coalition voters in favor - poll

The Israeli public appears to be sharply divided on its response to the newly-announced ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon, according to a fresh snap poll conducted by Israel's Channel 12 news.

The Israeli Security Cabinet approved the U.S.-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday night, with 10 ministers voting in favor. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was the sole minister to oppose the agreement, which officially went into effect on Wednesday morning.

When asked about the Lebanon arrangement, 37% supported the ceasefire, 32% opposed it, and 31% were undecided about its impact on Israel.

Furthermore, the poll result revealed deep divisions among Israelis along political lines.

Only 20% of coalition voters support the Lebanon ceasefire, while approximately 45% of Israelis who back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition oppose it. The other 35% were undecided.

In contrast, about half of opposition voters backed the ceasefire with Hezbollah, with 22% of against and 28% undecided.

Israelis are also divided on the issue of whether it was Israel or the Hezbollah terrorist group that emerged victorious after almost 14 months of war.

When asked who won the conflict in Lebanon, 20% of the Israeli respondents said they believed the Jewish state was the victor, 19% of Israeli respondents said Hezbollah was the winner, and 11% were undecided. The other 50% held the opinion that the conflict, which began on Oct. 8, 2023, ended without a clear winner.

The U.S.-brokered Lebanon ceasefire calls for an initial two-month end to the fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah. The agreement stipulates an Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah forces are required to relocate north of the Litani River, approximately 29 kilometers (18 miles) from the Lebanon-Israel border.

After years of multiple broken ceasefires in the Middle East, Israelis remain divided on whether the ceasefire with Hezbollah will endure.

About one-quarter of the Israeli respondents (24%) believe the ceasefire with Hezbollah will last “for years,” while 28% believe it will only last “a few months” and another 30% think it will “collapse after a short time.” The other 18% were undecided.

Among the most pressing issues for Israel is the return of approximately 60,000 Israelis who were forced to evacuate their homes due to constant Hezbollah attacks on northern communities. Whether the ceasefire will reassure northern Israelis enough to return remains uncertain.

The destruction on the Lebanese side has been significantly more extensive. According to Lebanese authorities, approximately 3,500 people have been killed, however, the government does not differentiate between Hezbollah terrorists and civilians. The Israeli military estimates that it has eliminated over 2,000 Hezbollah terrorists during the past two months of fighting.

The Iranian-backed Shiite terrorist group traditionally receives wide support among the Muslim Shiites in Lebanon, however, a growing number have blamed Hezbollah for dragging the country into a war that many reportedly believe was unnecessary and against the will of the broader Lebanese population.

On Oct. 8, 2023, the day after Hamas launched its unprecedented surprise invasion and attack on Israel, Hezbollah began escalating hostilities by firing rockets and anti-tank missiles at Israeli positions near the northern border. These attacks marked the start of sustained military operations for more than a year, with Hezbollah launching thousands of rockets and deploying drones into Israel over the following months. These actions triggered a prolonged military response from Israel, resulting in widespread destruction, numerous casualties, and the displacement of over a million Lebanese civilians.

The ceasefire announced on Wednesday morning requires the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces to prevent Hezbollah’s return to the southern border, among other measures aimed at promoting stability and security for both nations.