For the first time in two months, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has passed the chairman of the National Unity Party, Benny Gantz, on the question of "who is best suited for the position of Prime Minister?", a poll published by Channel 12 News on Friday finds. Netanyahu was backed by 39% of respondents, compared to 34% who said Gantz was the more appropriate candidate. 27% replied that neither is suitable or that they don’t know. The last time the same question was asked - the results were more or less the opposite. When pitted against opposition leader Yair Lapid, Netanyahu garnered even more support, with 42% of respondents saying he was the most suitable candidate for the position of Prime Minister. Lapid was backed by 26% of respondents, with the remaining 32% replying that neither is suitable or that they don’t know. Netanyahu was also pitted against former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, in the wake of Bennett’s interview with the BBC , in which he fired back at interviewer Anjana Gadgil, who claimed that “the Israeli forces are happy to kill children”. Related articles: Poll shows National Unity losing support Poll: Likud, National Unity, tied for top spot Most of the public opposes deal with Hamas Liberman at all-time high, Bennett supported more than Netanyahu In response to this question, 39% of respondents said Netanyahu is more suitable to serve as Prime Minister, while Bennett received a figure similar to Lapid – 25%. The remainder – 36% – replied that neither is suitable or that they don’t know. Following the criticism of the conduct of the police at this week's demonstration at the Ayalon Highway, during which demonstrators blocked the highway for hours , participants in the poll were asked how, in their opinion, the police are dealing with the protesters who are demonstrating against the judicial reform. 38% said they believe that the police are too lenient, 30% said that their conduct is as it should be and 18% replied that the police act too harsh on the demonstrators. (Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)
