Israelis are virtually evenly divided on whether the Jewish state should launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran, with 41% in favor and 39% opposed, a poll published on Thursday found.

The survey published by Israeli daily Haaretz showed opinion was statistically evenly split, although 20% said they were still undecided.

The poll, which surveyed 495 people and had a margin of error of 4.6%, comes as speculation in Israel grows about a possible strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Israel and Western governments fear Iran is seeking an atomic bomb, but Tehran says its nuclear facilities are for peaceful civil energy and medical purposes only.

On Wednesday, Haaretz reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak were seeking to win support from the Israeli cabinet for a strike on Iran.

The Haaretz poll on Thursday showed solid public support for both Barak and Netanyahu, with 52% of respondents saying they trusted the men “on the Iranian issue” compared to 31% who said they did not and 11% who said they had no opinion.

Speculation about a possible attack on Iran has been growing in Israel in the wake of several days of reports about political moves and military exercises that could be related to a planned strike.

On Wednesday, Israel carried out a test of a rocket-propulsion system that media reports said was capable of launching a ballistic missile.

Israeli officials said the exercise was long scheduled and unrelated to any recent media speculation about Iran.

 

Source: AFP; Haaretz