Israeli public opinion

Demonstrators protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, and for the release of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip, outside the Kirya army base in Tel Aviv, July 27, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

‘Israelis are frustrated, but do they want to stop the war? Not exactly’

Rallying around the flag, low trust in government, rebounding support for Netanyahu: Dahlia Scheindlin unpacks Israel’s peculiar public opinion trends.

By Dana Mills August 30, 2024

A giant portrait of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a protest against the Jewish Nation-State Law in Tel-Aviv on July 30, 2018. (Photo by Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

Who needs a Nation-State Law? What Israelis really think

Several polls show that a surprising coalition of Israelis oppose the Jewish Nation-State Law, or at least think it is unnecessary and harmful. Those of us who are committed to equality of all citizens in Israel feel, once again, like specks drowning in a sea of chest-beating nationalists. The passage of the Jewish Nation-State Law…

By Dahlia Scheindlin August 3, 2018

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference about Iran's nuclear program, April 30, 2018. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Out of Iran deal, into war? Either way, Netanyahu’s popularity soars

Netanyahu appears to have inoculated himself against looming corruption charges due to the dramatic developments on the security front. As war with Iran looms, why does the old formula work so well? On Wednesday night, the day after Trump announced his withdrawal from the Iran deal, in between Israeli airstrikes in Syria, Israel’s Channel 2…

By Dahlia Scheindlin May 10, 2018

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Construction takes place in the West Bank settlement of Ariel, January 25, 2017. (Sebi Berens/Flash90).

As two-state solution appears less likely, support for it keeps dropping

A new poll of Palestinians and Israelis finds that with symbolic incentives, a majority on both sides can be convinced to support a two-state solution. But time is only eroding support for two states across the Green Line. For years, a majority of both Israelis and Palestinians supported a two-state solution in principle. After years…

By Dahlia Scheindlin August 3, 2017

[Illustrative photo by Shutterstock.com]

Are Israelis ready for a confederated two-state solution?

A +972 poll puts the details of one such plan to the Israeli public, and finds that a majority supports the general approach. The new year begins with speculation about the possibility of a change of government in Israel. But it is not at all clear that even a more centrist government can advance a…

By Dahlia Scheindlin January 4, 2015

A Palestinian woman carries a key, a symbol of the Nakba and the right of return, May 15, 2012, Ramallah. (Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

For Israeli media, even the memory of the Nakba poses a threat

A new study reveals that although Israeli newspapers present an array of views on the Nakba, the most common one sees it as nothing less than a threat that seeks to delegitimize Israel. By Oren Persico / ‘The 7th Eye‘ A new study reveals that Israel’s mainstream media maintains the state’s official stance toward the Nakba, and…

By The Seventh Eye December 18, 2014

Funeral of Israeli soldier Banaya Rubel, Holon, Israel. Rubel was killed during clashes in Gaza. (photo: Activestills.org)

‘Finish the job’

This is the watchword in Israel today, no matter the price. Late last night (Monday), I was driving home from work and listening to the talk show hosted by Jojo Abutbul, who is sort of an old-time folk hero in this country – a Mizrahi Jew with down-to-earth wisdom. An Israeli common man. He speaks…

By Larry Derfner July 22, 2014

Palestinian and Israeil flags (Activestills)

Polls: Two-state solution was a casualty, even before the war

Turns out most Israelis support the establishment of a Palestinian state – until they read the fine print. There is a natural obsession with short-term, immediate details of the situation in Israel and Palestine: where is the siren or rocket or bomb? How many bodies are piling up in Gaza? Israelis’ memory at present seems…

By Dahlia Scheindlin July 12, 2014

Graffiti on the Israeli separation barrier dividing East Jerusalem neighborhoods reads, "Boycott Israel", March 26, 2012. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Belier/Activestills.org)

Will boycott ‘work?’

Four notes on what could be tipping points for — or against — the boycott movement. A week without a major boycott development in Israel is beginning to seem like a rarity. With a string of celebrity, corporate, cultural and professional threats or actions, the atmosphere is jittery; minor rumors like boycott pressure on Beyoncé are…

By Dahlia Scheindlin March 24, 2014

Israeli nationalists march in Jerusalem, May 20, 2012. (Photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Did the Israeli public really flip-flop on peace?

A single question from a recent public opinion poll gave some the impression that Israelis are backing off support for a peace deal. A closer look shows little actual change in public support for a two-state solution, but highlights the danger of sensationalizing polls in an ultra-sensitive environment of negotiations. As usual, the devil is…

By Dahlia Scheindlin August 7, 2013

Bulldozers in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc. (flickr / ☪yrl CC BY-NC 2.0)

Survey: Israeli Jews tolerate settlements, status quo

A new survey released by Ariel-which-is-now-known-as-a-University, shows, remarkably, that the majority of Israeli Jews inside the Green Line are still basically wedded to settlements and barely register that they pose a problem. -A 52 percent absolute majority agrees that settlements are “a true Zionist act,” twice as many those who disagree (26 percent). The remainder,…

By Dahlia Scheindlin June 13, 2013

Demonstration against attack on Iran, Tel Aviv, 24 March, 2012 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

Can critique of Iran strike by security figures change Israeli public opinion?

Will Diskin crack Netanyahu’s “good for security” armor? A review of public surveys on the Iran issue shows that even prior to the damning critique on Friday by Yuval Diskin, former head of the Internal Security Agency, the public already diverged sharply from the leadership’s policy: Survey after survey, as I wrote in March, showed…

By Dahlia Scheindlin April 29, 2012

Survey (credit: image bank)

SURVEYS: Israelis, Palestinians support 2-state – but why bother?

The latest polls from two regular series show some hopeful results in terms of Israeli Palestinian negotiations, concessions, and a future agreement. But are pollsters asking the right questions? Here’s a selection of data from a few recent surveys of the Israeli and Palestinian publics, showing the same old story: support for negotiations, some concessions…

By Dahlia Scheindlin January 7, 2012