Poll: Most of the public supports Minister Yisrael Katz's position in the confrontation with the Chief of Staff

January 9, 2025   

A survey conducted by the Direct Polls polling institute and published this evening (Thursday) in the main edition of Channel 14 shows that the majority of the public believes that Defense Minister Yisrael Katz is right in the position he presented - in the publicized confrontation that took place this week between him and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. Survey participants were asked, "Who is right in the confrontation between Defense Minister Katz and Chief of Staff Halevi?" 49% of those surveyed responded that the Defense Minister is right, 44% responded that the Chief of Staff is right, and 7% of those surveyed responded that they have no position on the subject. The two clashed against the backdrop of the State Comptroller's complaint that the IDF's top brass is intimidating witnesses in the investigation into October 7th.  An absolute majority supports the release of Ari Rosenfeld. The survey also shows that an absolute majority of the public thinks that the court should release reserve soldier Ari Rosenfeld from detention and that he is not a danger to state security.\ According to the survey data, 70% of the public believe that the court should release Rosenfeld to house arrest. 19% claim that he should be kept in detention, and 11% have no position on the matter. As a reminder, this week the court left Rosenfeld in detention, after hearing his lawyers' request to release him to house arrest, claiming that the soldier does not pose a danger to state security. The Shin Bet's position was in favor of the release, but the prosecution opposed it. [Gallery]