Digital Library
Israeli Views of the Israel-Hamas War
Topic:
Israel & Regional Politics, Jewish Diaspora & Interfaith Relations, Israel Literacy
Principal Investigators:
Laura Silver, Maria Smerkovich
Study Date:
2024
Source:
Pew Research Center
Key Findings:
A Pew Research Center survey conducted from March 3 to April 4, 2024, among 1,001 Israelis, reveals public opinion on Israel's military response, prospects of the war, governance of Gaza, Israeli-Palestinian coexistence, and the role of the U.S. in the conflict. The survey reveals deep divisions within Israeli society regarding the war, governance of Gaza, the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, and the role of the U.S.
Israeli Views on Military Response, War Goals and Long-Term Impact
39% believe Israel’s military response against Hamas has been appropriate, 34% think it has not gone far enough, 19% feel it has gone too far. 67% of Israelis are confident that Israel will probably (27%) or definitely (40%) achieve its war goals. 61% worry about the war expanding into other countries, and 68% fear the war will continue for a long time.
Post-War Governance of Gaza and Declining Belief in a Two-State Solution
There is no clear consensus on what should happen after the war. 40% believe Israel should govern Gaza, 14% think Gazans should decide their leadership, and 18% support a Palestinian Authority (PA) government (either with or without Mahmoud Abbas).
Only 26% of Israelis believe a peaceful coexistence between Israel and an independent Palestinian state is possible. This is down from 35% in 2023 and half the percentage from 2013.
Views on the U.S. Role in the Conflict
60% of Israelis disapprove of President Joe Biden’s handling of the war. 41% think Biden is striking the right balance between Israelis and Palestinians, 27% say he favors Israel too much and 25% say he favors Palestinians too much.
Approval ratings for Biden and the U.S. have dropped by at least 10 percentage points since last year. Despite this, 72% of Israelis still want the U.S. to play a major diplomatic role—more than any other country, including: Egypt (45%), Saudi Arabia (29%), Qatar (27%), United Nations (24%).
Differences Between Jewish and Arab Israelis
76% of Jewish Israelis believe Israel will achieve its war aims, vs. 38% of Arab Israelis. 63% of Jews are optimistic about Israel’s national security, vs. 21% of Arabs.
74% of Arab Israelis say Israel's military response has gone too far, compared to only 4% of Jewish Israelis.
50% of Jewish Israelis support Israeli governance of Gaza, vs. only 3% of Arab Israelis. 37% of Arab Israelis prefer that Gazans decide their leadership, compared to just 8% of Jewish Israelis.
90% of Jewish Israelis have a favorable view of the U.S., vs. only 29% of Arab Israelis. 66% of Jewish Israelis trust Biden, vs. 21% of Arab Israelis. 86% of Arab Israelis think Biden favors Israel too much, vs. only 11% of Jewish Israelis.
74% of Jewish Israelis want the U.S. to play a major diplomatic role, vs. 63% of Arab Israelis. Two-thirds of Arab Israelis support Qatar and Egypt playing a major role, compared to only about 40% of Jewish Israelis.
92% of Arab Israelis have a negative view of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, compared to 48% of Jewish Israelis.
Methodology:
Nearly all Israeli Jews identify as either Haredi (commonly translated as “ultra-Orthodox”), Dati (“religious”), Masorti (“traditional”) or Hiloni (“secular”). The spectrum of religious observance in Israel – on which Haredim are generally the most religious and Hilonim the least – does not always line up perfectly with Israel’s political spectrum. On some issues, including those pertaining to religion in public life, there is a clear overlap: Haredim are furthest to the right, and Hilonim are furthest to the left, with Datiim and Masortim in between. But on other political issues, including those related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and views of the United States, differences between religious groups do not always mirror those between people at different points on the ideological spectrum. Because of sample size considerations, Pew combines Haredim and Datiim for analysis in this report.