In brief
A new poll highlights the mood among Israelis beleaguered by two and a half years of war, suggesting a prevalent discontent with the current situation. Despite the weariness, many oppose a ceasefire with Iran, believing that military action is still necessary to combat ongoing threats from Hezbollah. As demands for clarity on the conflict's objectives rise, the public sentiment is rife with confusion and anger, leading to a complex political landscape ahead of upcoming elections.
Standing next to the blown-out windows and cracked walls of her apartment in Tel Aviv, Liat Zvi voices an exasperation many Israelis say they feel.
It's depressing… we've been in war for two and a half years and this just feels like another round, she sighs.
Six weeks ago, her central neighbourhood was among the many locations where Tehran delivered its response to US-Israeli attacks. An Iranian missile evaded Israel's multi-tiered air defence and smashed into a residential building, killing 32-year-old carer Mary Anne Velasquez de Vera from the Philippines. This was the first fatality in Israel during the war with Iran – a conflict that's currently on a precarious pause.
Now, like many of her fellow Israelis, Zvi is asking herself what this conflict actually achieved for her country and is finding it hard to contemplate what happens next. It's too much for me to look ahead - it's really hard, she expresses.
New polling by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem points to a war-weariness among Israelis. But it also suggests two thirds oppose the current tentative truce between Washington and Tehran. The vast majority surveyed said they believed neither Iran nor Hezbollah in Lebanon had been severely weakened by the recent US and Israeli bombardment.
Polling data shows an emotional spectrum among citizens, with despair being the top feeling reported, followed by confusion and anger. Despite acknowledgment of the toll the conflict has taken, a significant portion believe that military action against Tehran should continue, with only slight support for adherence to a ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has touted achievements resulting from military actions in the region, although critics argue that the initial goals of the conflict remain unmet. Amidst a backdrop of disillusionment with war efforts, Israelis are gearing up for impending elections where the political landscape may shift significantly in response to the public's fatigue with ongoing conflict.
