The majority of Israelis oppose a move by which the State Attorney's Office will offer Former PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently on trial for alleged corruption, a plea deal, polls published by Israel's three major news channels on Sunday have found.
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The polls further show that the public favors former Jerusalem Mayor Likud MK Nir Barkat as Netanyahu's successor.
A survey by Kan 11 News showed that 49% of the public opposes a plea bargain, saying the court should rule on the case. Some 28% supported a plea deal, and 23% of respondents said they had no opinion on the matter.
Channel 12 News' poll found that 51% oppose a plea deal, 31% support it, and 18% were undecided. Channel 13 News' results showed that 46% were in favor of a plea, 46% opposed in, and 25% were undecided.
As for whether any such plea deal should include moral turpitude – a clause that under Israeli law bans an individual from public service for seven years – Channel 13 News found that 49% supported banning Netanyahu from politics for seven years, 40% opposed it, and 11% were undecided.
The poll further found that 40% of respondents believe Netanyahu's attempt to strike a plea bargain is a ploy, 30% believe his efforts are sincere, and 30% were undecided.
Kan 11 News' poll found that 36% of Israelis think Netanyahu is guilty of all charges, 19% think he is guilty of some of the charges excluding bribery, 22% believe he is innocent, and 23% are undecided.
Delving into the same question among right-wing voters, the poll deducted that 42% believe Netanyahu is guilty and 36% believe him to be innocent.
As for the "day after" a plea bargain, Kan 11 News found that 47% support the current government stay in office, 38% would like to see Likud join the government, thus changing its makeup, and 15% were undecided.
Presented with the same question by Channel 12 News, 39% favored the current government, 24% said they would like to see Likud enter the government, and 28% were split between calling early elections and being undecided.
Over at Channel 13 News, 34% voiced support for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government, 18% said they wanted Likud to join the coalition, and 38% were undecided.
As for the question of Likud leadership in the post-Netanyahu era, Barkat was favored by all three polls, with 29% in Kan's poll, 36% in N13, and 26% in N12's poll.
Kan's poll said the 12% would like to see former Mossad Director Yossi Cohen lead Likud, followed by Israel Katz (10%), Miri Regev (6%) and Yuli Edelstein (9%). Some 13% of respondents said no current MK could succeed Netanyahu and 26% said they cannot endorse anyone at this time.
N13 said 10% of Likud voters would like to see Katz head the party, followed by Amir Ohana (8%), Edelstein (7%), and Regev (5%). Some 34% of respondents said no current MK could succeed Netanyahu.
Over at N12, 9% favored Edelstein as Netanyahu's successor, followed by Katz (8%), Gilad Erdan (8%), Regev (5%) and Ohana (3%).
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