In the midst of the election campaign in Israel: Gadi Eisenkot defeated Benjamin Netanyahu in one thing
The Rotem AR Institute examined the emotional attitude towards four political figures: Eisenkot, Netanyahu, Bennett, and Lieberman. Eisenkot leads with a net emotional balance of 32 percentage points in his favor, while Netanyahu presents a negative balance of minus 20 points. The study reveals significant emotional polarization between Eisenkot and Netanyahu, with a strong negative correlation between attitudes towards them.
The Rotem AR Institute published a study examining the emotional attitude of the Israeli public towards four political figures: Gadi Eisenkot, Benjamin Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett, and Avigdor Lieberman. The study, conducted in the midst of the election campaign, focuses on the emotions these figures evoke rather than voting intentions or mandates. Eisenkot records the most notable figure: 52% of respondents express positive feelings towards him and 20% negative feelings, a net balance of 32 percentage points in his favor. He is the only one among the four with a clearly positive balance. The prominent emotions towards him are trust, appreciation, and hope. However, the institute points to a challenge of prominence: a significant portion of respondents have not yet formed a clear emotional stance towards him. Netanyahu presents the most negative balance: 32% positive feelings versus 52% negative, a balance of minus 20 points. In the open-ended responses, feelings of distrust, rejection, and disgust towards him were identified. The institute uses the term 'rejection ceiling' to describe the gap. Bennett is close to the equilibrium point: 36% positive versus 38% negative, a balance of minus two points. The institute identifies appreciation for his executive abilities and his perception as a pragmatic figure, but also past baggage that undermines trust in him. Lieberman stands at 33% positive versus 42% negative, a balance of minus nine points. The study reveals significant emotional polarization between Eisenkot and Netanyahu: a negative correlation of r=-0.55 between attitudes towards them. Among respondents whose attitude towards Netanyahu is negative, 74% express positive feelings towards Eisenkot. Only 7% express a positive attitude towards both. The institute sees this as evidence that the two stand on opposite sides of the political fault line surrounding Netanyahu.