Poll: Majority of Lebanese Shia Support Agreement with Israel and State Control of Arms
A poll by Statistics Lebanon shows 63.3% of Lebanese Shia support an agreement with Israel, two-thirds favor handing weapons to the state, and 78.5% trust the military.
A new poll conducted by Statistics Lebanon among the Shia community in Lebanon reveals that 63.3% support an agreement with Israel, nearly two-thirds favor transferring the weapons of the terrorist organization to the state, and only 5.9% want to see the current leadership strengthened.
The poll, carried out in September among a sample of 800 Lebanese Shia respondents regardless of political affiliation, examined trust in Hezbollah and its institutions, perceptions of the war's achievements and costs, and views on the future of weapons and decisions regarding war and peace.
Agreement with Israel and Hezbollah's Weapons
Regarding an agreement with Israel, the 63.3% support rate includes direct talks, mediation, or a comprehensive regional agreement, while 8.9% support an agreement under Iranian sponsorship. On the question of Hezbollah's weapons, 66.4% support transferring them to the state in some format, compared to 29.6% who believe Hezbollah should keep its arsenal as it is. The option of surrendering the weapons immediately and unconditionally to the Lebanese Armed Forces received 16.5% support.
78.5% of respondents express trust in the Lebanese Armed Forces, and 51.1% view the military as the primary contributor to long-term security.
Criticism of Leadership and War Outcomes
Public criticism is also prominent regarding the results of the fighting: 67.4% believe Hezbollah failed to achieve its goals or achieved only partial objectives, noting that the price of the war was extremely heavy. Meanwhile, 42.1% reported feelings of disappointment, anger, or concern regarding the conduct of the terrorist organization's leadership.
When asked which Shia leadership they would like to see strengthened in the future, 51.5% chose experienced political leadership, 22% preferred a new generation of youth, and only 5.9% chose the current leadership.
