public opinion

A large billboard in Jerusalem depicts U.S. President-elect Donald Trump urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war, January 13, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Forget Trump — agreeing to a ceasefire was Netanyahu’s own calculation

In Israel, the war in Gaza has become a burden on the government, the military, and society as a whole. Trump only gave Netanyahu an excuse to cut his losses.

By Meron Rapoport January 17, 2025

Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel at a protest against the Jewish Nation-State Law in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square, August 11, 2018. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

Poll: Jews, Arabs much less divided than Israeli politics lets on

A ‘Local Call’ poll shows a broad range of areas where Jews and Arabs see the benefits of cooperation. But that doesn’t mean Jewish Israelis are ready to let Arabs hold positions of power, namely joining the government. The surprising bit: most Arabs would support their parties joining an Israeli government. Judging from the current…

By Dahlia Scheindlin April 3, 2019

Palestinian men watch Donald Trump give a foreign policy speech in a cafe in East Jerusalem, December 6, 2017. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Under Trump, Arab support for U.S. hits lowest point in years

Polling in 11 Arab countries finds that only 12 percent of people in the Arab world have a positive view of U.S. foreign policy. Nearly 90 percent say they would oppose their country recognizing Israel diplomatically. By Derek Davison A year and a half into his presidency, Donald Trump’s two biggest beneficiaries in the Middle…

By +972 Magazine July 18, 2018

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Protesters carry away someone who was shot by an Israeli sniper along the Gaza border, May 14, 2018. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

WATCH: What do Israelis think of the violence in Gaza?

In the midst of the Great Return March protests in Gaza, during which Israeli snipers killed well over 100 protesters inside the besieged territory, Social TV asked regular Israelis on the street what they think of the Israeli army’s actions.

By Social TV June 5, 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

Palestinian youths burn tires next to Israel's separation wall in Qalandiya, in between Jerusalem and Ramallah, West Bank. (Flash90)

Hopes for solving Israeli-Palestinian conflict fall across the Mideast, poll finds

Only in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are majorities still inclined to support a two-state solution, while more than 40 percent of Lebanese, Jordanians, and Palestinians now say they no longer believe any solution is possible. By James J. Zogby Many Arabs appear to have lost faith in finding a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian…

By +972 Magazine December 2, 2017

Illustrative photo of journalists surrounding the subject of a story. (Kobi Gideon/Flash90)

‘Thou shall not discriminate’: New rules for Israeli journalists

The Israel Press Council approves a change to ethics rules that forbids journalists and media outlets from discriminating against and excluding certain populations from their coverage. Among those opposing the change: the editor of ‘Israel Hayom’ and the publisher of ‘Haaretz.’ By Oren Persico The Israel Press Council last month approved a change to the…

By The Seventh Eye October 2, 2016

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men take part in a mass prayer protest against drafting religious Jews into the Israeli army, Jerusalem, March 2, 2014. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Israel’s deepest divide

The religious-secular chasm may be kept at a low boil beneath the unifying factor of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. But more likely, the polarization is one reason why Israel does not take more action to end the conflict. A recent and vast survey of Israelis by the Pew Research Center showed deep divisions of attitudes within…

By Dahlia Scheindlin March 20, 2016

Israeli soldiers inspect a vehicle at the Enav checkpoint separating the West Bank Palestinian cities of Nablus and Tulkarem, January 11, 2016. (Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org)

Public opinion roundup: Is Palestinian support for violence falling?

A vast majority of Palestinians polled in recent surveys say they or their families have seen a negative economic impact from the latest wave of violence. And while most Palestinians feel deeply alienated from their leaders in both Fatah and Hamas, a strong majority remain committed to the democratic process. Dahlia Scheindlin follows up her…

By Dahlia Scheindlin February 21, 2016

A section of Israel's separation wall in the West Bank. (Activestills.org)

Israeli Polls: Jews want to ignore the conflict, Arabs think nothing will change

The majority of Jewish Israelis think the international community will impose some sort of ‘substantial pressure’ on Israel soon. But they are disinclined to let such criticism affect the country’s policy. A majority of Israelis see the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as an existential problem, according to January’s monthly Peace Index survey conducted by Tel Aviv University and the…

By Dahlia Scheindlin February 10, 2016

An Israeli votes in the 2015 election, March 17, 2015. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Poll: 45% of Israeli Jews don’t think Arabs should have equal rights

Did the good folks at Israel’s Army Radio station not think to ask Arab citizens themselves whether they think they deserve full and equal rights? Israel’s Army Radio conducted a poll of Jewish citizens of Israel and asked them whether Arab citizens of Israel should have equal rights. No, this is not the start of…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man January 19, 2016

A elderly Palestinian man walks past an Israeli soldier stationed in the center of the occupied city of Hebron, West Bank, October 29, 2015. (Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)

How Americans really feel about equality for Palestinians and Israelis

The Obama administration is only willing to discuss a one-state solution in terms of apartheid and violence. But asked whether Jews and Palestinians should be equal, the vast majority of Americans suddenly become one-state supporters. And then there’s sanctions… Thirty-seven percent of Americans think the United States should respond to ongoing Israeli settlement construction with…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man December 6, 2015

File photo of masked Israeli soldiers in Hebron. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Israelis only understand force — and it makes them angrier, polls show

New polls find that a majority of Jewish Israelis support the ‘voluntary transfer’ of West Bank Palestinians, a majority want to strip East Jerusalem Palestinians of Israeli residency. It’s true that most peace efforts followed war and violence — but not because the Israeli public wants them. Even in times of crisis, a brave leader can…

By Dahlia Scheindlin October 29, 2015