Poll: Half of Israelis think military campaign in Hamas-ruled Gaza stopped too soon

The Associated Press

JERUSALEM - A poll shows about half of Israelis think their government should have continued its military offensive against Palestinian militants in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

The independent Maagar Mohot poll released on Friday shows 49 per cent of respondents feel Israel should have kept going after squads who fire rockets into Israel. Thirty-one per cent supported the government's decision to stop. Twenty per cent had no opinion.

Twenty-nine per cent thought Israel should have sent ground troops to invade Gaza.

Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire two days ago.

The poll of 503 respondents had an error margin of 4.5 percentage points.

The same survey showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party and electoral partner Israel Beiteinu losing some support, but his hard-line bloc still able to form the next government. Elections are Jan. 22.