National Security Index: Public Opinion Survey
Dr. Zipi Israeli
Dr. Zipi Israeli showed that according to the public opinion survey conducted, Israeli public opinion is full of contradictions but there is also some logic to these contradictions. Public opinion tended to agree on statements that have been part of the Israeli mythos. For example, the survey shows that a majority of Israelis agree that the Jewish nation is the chosen nation, the nation dwells alone, and that we can rely only on ourselves. In terms of how Israelis feel vis-à-vis Israel’s strategic situation, a majority agree with the following statements: The State of Israel is a “villa in the jungle,” Israeli democracy is in danger, and that we will always live by the sword. This year marked a rise in the feeling that Israeli democracy is in danger. As for threats, for the past three years now, public opinion sees the greatest threat to Israel as the “Northern Front.” In contrast, only 14% view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a danger, representing the declining significance of the conflict to the Israeli public. A strong majority is confident that Israel can successfully deal with challenges such as terror. Interestingly. Israelis are least confident in the ongoing US support. Of those that voted in the audience, 2/3 thought that the Israeli home front is not prepared enough for a possible military conflict. This contradicts the Israeli public at large, 58% of whom think that the home front is prepared to a great extent. 3/4 of those in the audience thought that Israel should proactively confront Iranian entrenchment in Syria, even at the cost of war. This almost matches the Israeli public at large, 70% of whom agree with the previous statement. 70% of Israelis believe the guiding values of the IDF are in line with those of the society at large, although 64% also expressed concern that ideological divisions in Israeli society is harming the IDF. As for the two-state solution, Israeli society is very polarized, with major cleavages between the Jewish and Arab population and between those that define themselves as left or right. A majority believes the two-state solution is achievable in the long-term, but not in the short-term. When compared to public opinion polls from 1988, values have changed in Israeli society since 1988, and now a majority consider maintaining a Jewish majority
