Israelis dissatisfied with ceasefire: poll

Israelis hold signs and flags as they protest the cease-fire in the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Malachi, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012. Israel and the Hamas militant group agreed to a cease-fire Wednesday to end eight days of the fiercest fighting in nearly four years, promising to halt attacks on each other and ease an Israeli blockade constricting the Gaza Strip. Hebrew on signs read: "Let the IDF win" and "False peace". (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

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 percent 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 is still able to form the next government. Elections are slated for January 22.