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JPPI's July Israeli Society Index A dramatic decline in the proportion of Israelis who see Iran as an existential threat
Topic:
Israel Literacy
Principal Investigators:
Shmuel Rosner, Noah Slepkov, Professor David Steinberg
Study Date:
2025
Source:
Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI)
Key Findings:
There has been a dramatic decline in the share of Israelis who, in the wake of the Iran campaign, view the country as an “existential threat.” This report addresses the 12-day Iran campaign, the war in Gaza and the hostage deal, confidence in the nation’s leadership, ultra-Orthodox conscription, and an international comparative index of general trust in other people.
-80% of Israelis viewed Iran as an existential threat before the campaign, 57% do so now.
-Confidence in the government and and the prime minister is at its highest since the start of the war in October 2023.
-Most Israelis think the war in Gaza is nearing its end.
-Most favor returning the hostages and ending the war even if that means Hamas is not removed from power.
-Near-parity among Jewish Israelis who support a deal and those who prefer continuing the war until Hamas is removed.
-Most think that removing Hamas from power is an appropriate goal, but also feel that it is not realistic.
-A large majority of Israelis want a “fast track” to ending the prime minister’s trial.
-Near-parity among Jewish Israelis who support the passage of an ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) exemption/conscription law and those who do not.
-Most respondents believe that “On most important issues, most Israelis agree with each other.”
-A large gap exists between Jewish and Arab Israelis on whether “people can be trusted.”
-Relative to other countries, a large percentage of Jewish Israelis say “most people can be trusted.”
-Among Arab Israelis, there is a deep lack of faith that people (including Arab Israelis) can be trusted.
-Among Jewish Israelis, a small percentage say that “most Arab Israelis can be trusted.”
-Compared to a year ago, there has been no change regarding the desire to emigrate: a quarter of Jews and a third of Arabs wish to do so.
-Compared to a year ago, there has been a rise, mainly among Jews, in overall optimism with respect to the State of Israel’s future.
Methodology:
This is the first JPPI survey conducted after Israel’s 12-day Iran campaign, during which Israel struck nuclear facilities and other sites in Iran, while also being hit by Iranian missile barrages.
Data for JPPI’s July Israeli Society Index was collected between July 1 and July 4, 2025. The questionnaire was administered to 833 respondents. Data was collected via theMadad.com (633 Jewish sector respondents in an online survey) and Afkar Research (200 Arab sector respondents, about half online and half by phone). The data was weighted and analyzed by voting pattern and religiosity to represent the adult population of Israel.