(Israelhayom).An Israel Hayom's survey, conducted by Hagal Hachadash (New Wave) research center, carried out on the evening prior to Gilad's return from captivity showed the Israeli public clearly, across all sectors of society, expressed sweeping support for the deal to release Shalit and for the Netanyahu government's conduct during negotiations.
At the moment of truth, when Israelis were asked the decisive question - whether they support or oppose the deal - 75.7 percent, more than three-quarters of the population, responded in favor of it.
Among women, 84.5% backed the deal, while 66.7% of men supported it. In the ultra-Orthodox sector, 71.7% supported it, while 55.1% of national religious respondents favored the swap. Secular respondents expressed the greatest support for the deal, with 81.4% weighing their favor. Geographically, residents in the north overwhelmingly favored the deal, with 85.4% championing the swap, while residents of Judea and Samaria least favored the deal, with only 50.9% backing the deal --a slim majority but nevertheless a majority.
50.8%, agree the deal is likely to increase Hamas' willingness to carrying out acts of terror against Israel.
50.7%, are not more concerned about terror, 3% of whom worried even less about increased terror in the wake of the exchange.
59.2% of those who supported the deal say they are worried about an increase in terror.
Following the agreement, support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also increased. Nearly 30% (29.1%) said their opinion of Netanyahu is more positive following the deal. Only 8.7% felt more negatively about the prime minister. A majority, 58.6%, said their opinion of him remained unchanged. Netanyahu enjoyed an impressive increase among those with a high school education or less (61.5%) as well as among people aged 18 to 24 and those from traditional homes.
61.5% approve the Netanyahu-led government's conduct in negotiations with Hamas, The highest levels of support were registered among women (66%), men and women ages 45 to 54 (69.3%) and traditional people with a high school education or less who earn average incomes (64.5%). Residents in the north consistently expressed greater support for the deal for Gilad's release, and their support was expressed in answers to all of the questions.
Among the supporters of the deal, a huge majority of 92% believe that Hamas' readiness to carry out terror attacks will not be affected by this deal.
One interesting finding was among residents of Judea and Samaria: While their support for the deal was far lower, their support for the government was high, with 62.6% saying that the government properly handled the negotiations for Gilad's release. Only 10.2% of Judea and Samaria residents who were polled said they thought that the government acted incorrectly.