New opinion polls conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute and Tel Aviv University’s Peace Index shed light on Israeli attitudes towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, showcasing a more hawkish sentiment than in recent years. These surveys were carried out after the Oct. 7 massacre and subsequent war with Hamas, providing insight into the impact of recent events on public opinion. The polls aimed to represent various factions of Israeli society, including Israeli citizens of Palestinian descent.
Surprisingly, the polls indicate that only 10% of Israeli Jews would support a pause in fighting to negotiate the exchange of hostages being held by Hamas. In contrast, the largest percentage (44.3%) expressed a desire for the government to immediately negotiate for the hostages without suspending military operations. This position stems from concerns that releasing Palestinian prisoners could lead to further attacks, drawing attention to previous incidents wherein Israel released prisoners who later resumed hostile activities.
Furthermore, 26.6% of Israelis opposed negotiating with Hamas for the release of the Israeli hostages. This demonstrates a significant decline in support for peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority among Israeli Jews, dropping from 47.6% in favor in September to only 24.5% in favor after the October attacks.
The polls also suggest hawkish views regarding the use of force in Gaza. Around 57.5% of Israeli Jews believed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were using too little firepower, indicating a desire for greater military action. Meanwhile, 36.6% considered the use of force by the IDF as appropriate, and only 1.8% believed it to be excessive.
Netanyahu administration faced significant discontent, with 61.4% of all Israelis giving a negative rating to Prime Minister Netanyahu for his performance during the war. Trusted more than Netanyahu, the IDF garnered support from 49.5% of respondents in comparison to Netanyahu’s 7.3%. This erosion of Netanyahu’s electoral base consistently emphasized criticisms of his government’s functioning.
Support for a two-state solution also witnessed a slight decrease among Jewish Israelis, declining from 37.5% in September to 28.6% after the October attacks. Notably, Arab citizens of Israel maintained a similar level of support for a two-state solution, highlighting the differing experiences and perspectives of these communities.
Despite the divisive nature of the conflict, a surprising finding from the surveys was the increased hopefulness among Israelis about the future of their country. 64% of respondents expressed optimism or some optimism about the future, reflecting a sense of unity that emerged amidst the crisis.
However, experts caution against relying solely on poll results obtained during wartime, as high emotions can influence responses. They anticipate the resurfacing of political discrepancies and differences in perspectives once the war concludes and events settle.
The recent polls provide significant insights into Israeli attitudes towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The prevailing hawkish sentiment indicates concerns about prisoner exchanges and a decline in support for peace negotiations. As the conflict continues, Israeli society appears to grapple with varying opinions and the challenges of reaching a resolution.
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