politics
Netanyahu Tops Polls Despite Effort to Remove Him, WSJ Says

Benjamin Netanyahu remains the dominant figure in Israeli politics, topping public opinion polls despite what The Wall Street Journal describes as an all-out effort to remove him from office, according to the newspaper's profile of the prime minister.
The Journal frames Netanyahu's durability as the central story of his current tenure: a politician whose critics have spent years trying to force him out, only to watch him remain, in the paper's words, "at the center of the show."
What does the Wall Street Journal say about Netanyahu's poll standing?
The Journal's reporting states plainly that Netanyahu "topped the polls despite an all-out effort to bring him down." The piece does not specify the numerical margins involved, but it treats his continued lead as the headline fact of his political position heading into this stretch of coverage.
Why has the effort to remove him fallen short so far?
The Journal does not itemize the individual campaigns, legal proceedings, or political maneuvers it references when it describes an "all-out effort" against Netanyahu. What the reporting does establish is the outcome: that effort, whatever its components, has not yet dislodged him from his position atop the polling data the paper cites.
Could Netanyahu still lose his position?
Yes, according to the Journal's own framing. The profile explicitly hedges its assessment, noting that "the prime minister might still falter." That caveat sits alongside the polling lead as the two load-bearing facts of the piece: a leader who is ahead now, but whose opponents have not given up, and whose position the Journal does not describe as settled.
Why is this profile being published now?
The Journal's own description of Netanyahu as a "divisive political Houdini" signals that the piece is examining a recurring pattern in his career — survival in the face of sustained opposition — rather than a single news event. The timing reflects an assessment of where that pattern stands at this moment, with Netanyahu again leading in polling even as efforts against him continue.
Where can readers find the full reporting?
The complete profile, including the Journal's broader characterization of Netanyahu's political standing, is available at wsj.com. The Journal's own summary line — that Netanyahu "might still falter" but "topped the polls despite an all-out effort to bring him down" — remains the fullest public accounting of the specific claims in this report.
Questions
Did Netanyahu lead the polls despite efforts to remove him?
Yes. The Wall Street Journal reports that Netanyahu "topped the polls despite an all-out effort to bring him down."
Could Netanyahu still lose his position as prime minister?
The Journal's own profile leaves that open, stating that "the prime minister might still falter" even as he currently leads in polling.