Israeli Opinions On Fighting with Hamas
Note: We are presenting raw data. When available, we provide some or all of the crosstabs (i.e., breakdowns by various categories such as party ID). To analyze the data, we encourage users to read the entire study and the methodology used. Results and reliability can be affected by such things as sample size, question wording, and question order. Responses may also be influenced by context and timing; for example, if the survey is conducted during a war.
What should be the highest priority in terms of Israeli national interest: military action in Rafah or a deal to release the hostages? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, May 1-6, 2024)
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
A deal to release the hostages should be the top priority for Israel | 56% | 6% | 62% |
Military action in Rafah should be the top priority |
37% | 89% | 32% |
DK | 7% | 6% | 7% |
Should Israel carry out a military operation in Rafah even though the U.S. opposes it? (Globes, March 12-13, 2024)
Yes in any circumstances | 49% |
Yes, if coordinated with the U.S. |
20% |
Yes, even without coordination with the US, as long as a solution is found for evacuating civilians | 13% |
Not in any circumstances | 10% |
DK | 9% |
What is your view of the claims that Israel is failing to do enough to avoid harming civilians in the Gaza Strip? (Globes, March 12-13, 2024)
Israel does all it can not to harm civilians | 62% |
Israel does too much, since there are no "non-combatants" in the Gaza Strip |
19% |
Israel does not do enough | 11% |
DK | 7% |
What’s your view on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip? (Globes, March 12-13, 2024)
Israel should make aid conditional on a hostage release deal | 44% |
Israel should provide all aid necessary, because this is the right thing to do, and because it helps Israel internationally |
27% |
Israel should provide no humanitarian aid while the war continues | 22% |
DK | 7% |
Which of the following sentences most closely represents your view of US President Biden? (Globes, March 12-13, 2024)
Biden is a friend of Israel, but he’s in an election period and his statements have to be understood in that context | 37% |
With all due respect to Biden, Israel has to act independently and needn’t take his opinions into account |
31% |
Biden is a great friend of Israel, and has given us a great deal of aid, and so we should consider his opinions | 21% |
DK | 11% |
President Biden argues that a diplomatic solution should be promoted for “the day after” in the Gaza Strip, and believes that a normalization agreement can be reached between Israel and Saudi Arabia. What is your view on that? (Globes, March 12-13, 2024)
Biden is wrong. As long as we are fighting and there’s no hostage release deal, there is no room for a diplomatic solution | 36% |
Biden is right. The question of "the day after" mustn’t be neglected even if there is no hostage release deal |
23% |
Israel should control the Gaza Strip for years ahead, and shouldn’t be looking for diplomatic solutions at this stage | 14% |
Biden is right, we should talk about "the day after", but the solution should not include any kind of Palestinian involvement | 14% |
DK | 12% |
Should President Biden be allowed to address the Knesset? (Globes, March 12-13, 2024)
Yes | 50% |
No |
26% |
DK | 24% |
To what extent do you believe that Israel should continue with the war even at the price of deepening Israel’s isolation internationally? (Globes, March 12-13, 2024)
Israel should only be concerned about itself. The fighting should continue regardless of its situation in the world | 41% |
Israel should continue fighting, but has to take its situation in the world into account |
40% |
Israel must take its situation in the world into account, and stop the fighting | 11% |
DK | 8% |
What is your view of President Biden’s statement that Netanyahu’s conduct of the war is hurting Israel more than helping it? (Globes, March 12-13, 2024)
Biden is right | 42% |
Biden is wrong |
37% |
DK | 21% |
How should Israel proceed with its military operations in Rafah? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, February 28-March 4, 2024)
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
Avoid expanding its military operations into Rafah |
14% | 19% | 15% |
Expand its military operations into Rafah |
74% | 17% | 65% |
The prime minister is currently talking in terms of ending the war with an “absolute victory.” In your opinion, what is the likelihood that the war in Gaza will indeed conclude with an absolute victory for Israel? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, February 12-15, 2024)
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
High/Very High Likelihood | 42% | 18% | 38% |
Low/Very Low Likelihood |
51% | 78% | 55% |
DK | 7% | 4% | 6% |
Do you support or oppose the idea that Israel should allow the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza residents at this time, with food and medicines being transferred by international bodies that are not linked to Hamas or to UNRWA? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, February 12-15, 2024)
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
Somewhat/Strongly Support | 30% | 85% | 39% |
Somewhat/Strongly Oppose |
68% | 13% | 58% |
DK | 3% | 2% | 3% |
Would you support or oppose an agreement to end the war which includes the release of all the hostages, long-term military quiet with guarantees from the United States, and a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia, in return for the release by Israel of large numbers of Palestinian prisoners, an extended ceasefire, and agreement for the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state in the long term? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, February 12-15, 2024)
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
Somewhat/Strongly Support | 37% | 77% | 16% |
Somewhat/Strongly Oppose |
55% | 9% | 47% |
DK | 8% | 13% | 9% |
Which of the following two possibilities will better ensure the security of residential localities in the north in the future and the return home of all the residents who were evacuated? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, February 12-15, 2024)
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
An internationally mediated political agreement that distances Hezbollah from the border | 36% | 69% | 42% |
An all-out Israeli attack on Hezbollah forces in Lebanon |
53% | 9% | 46% |
DK | 10% | 22% | 12% |
Let’s assume Israel’s leaders reach the conclusion that only the two following options are available to them, which do you think they should choose? (JPPI, February 2024)
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
The hostages are returned, and Hamas remains in control of Gaza | 25% | 61% | 32% |
The hostages are not returned, and Hamas loses control of Gaza |
47% | 11% | 40% |
Can’t answer | 28% | 28% | 28% |
How confident are you that Israel will the war? [Israeli Jews only] (JPPI, February 2024)
Oct 2023 | Nov. 2023 | Feb. 2024 | |
Confident | 74% | 61% | 54% |
Not confident |
10% | 19% | 24% |
Unsure | 16% | 21% | 22% |
Do you think the war is progressing in the right direction? (Channel 13 Israel, February 2, 2024)
Yes | 40% |
No |
40% |
DK | 20% |
Should the humanitarian aid that is transferred to Gaza be stopped? (Channel 13 Israel, February 2, 2024)
Yes | 70% |
No |
20% |
DK | 10% |
Do you trust Prime Minister Netanyahu in managing the war? (Channel 13 Israel, February 2, 2024)
Yes | 30% |
No |
58% |
DK | 12% |
Are you in favor of establishing renewed settlements in Gaza? (Channel 13 Israel, February 2, 2024)
Yes | 31% |
No |
51% |
DK | 18% |
Recently, it has been argued that there is a contradiction between Israel’s two war goals—toppling Hamas and bringing the hostages home. In your opinion, which of the two should be Israel’s main goal today? (Israel Democracy Institute, January 28–30, 2024)
Jews | Arabs | Total | |
Bringing the hostages home | 47% | 69% | 51% |
Toppling Hamas | 42% | 8% | 36% |
DK | 23% | 13% |
“In its ruling last week, the International Court of Justice in The Hague did not accept South Africa’s claims that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and did not order a ceasefire, but it did issue a series of temporary orders requiring Israel to minimize harm to civilians and infrastructure in Gaza and to allow the entry of humanitarian aid. In your opinion, with regard to Israel, is this ruling lenient or harsh? (Israel Democracy Institute, January 28–30, 2024)
Jews | Arabs | |
Harsh | 50% | 19% |
Lenient | 39% | 46% |
DK | 11% | 35% |
So far, to what extent is the State of Israel succeeding in meeting the two main goals for the war set by the government? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, December 2023, January 2024)
Toppling Hamas
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
Very small extent | 11% | 28% | 14% |
Fairly small extent |
19% | 14% | 18% |
Moderate extent |
38% | 23% | 36% |
Fairly large extent | 22% | 10% | 20% |
Very large extent | 8% | 3% | 7% |
DK | 3% | 21% | 4% |
Bringing the hostages home
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
Very small extent | 14% | 29% | 17% |
Fairly small extent |
27% | 16% | 25% |
Moderate extent |
42% | 29% | 39% |
Fairly large extent | 10% | 8% | 10% |
Very large extent | 4% | 4% | 4% |
DK | 3% | 14% | 5% |
Do you support an agreement that includes the return of the hostages, establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state and normalization with Saudi Arabia? (Midgam Institute, Mano Geva, January 2024)
Support | 51% |
Don’t support |
29% |
DK | 20% |
How they would like to see the situation three years from now? (Midgam Institute, Mano Geva, January 2024)
No Israeli troops in Gaz | 51% |
Continued Israeli military presence |
32% |
DK | 18% |
Are your feelings toward the United States since October 7 positive or negative? (Midgam Institute, Mano Geva, January 2024)
Positive | 65% |
Have your feelings toward the United States changed since October 7? (Midgam Institute, Mano Geva, January 2024)
Unchanged and remain good | 38% |
Changed for the better |
26% |
Changed for the worse | 17% |
Unchanged and remain negative | 7% |
DK | 11% |
According to reports, the United States is demanding that Israel shifts to a different phase of the war in Gaza, with an emphasis on reducing the heavy bombing of densely populated areas. Should Israel agree to this demand? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, December 2023)
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
Should | 16% | 56% | 23% |
Should not |
75% | 21% | 66% |
What do you think is the best way to bring about the release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, December 2023)
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
Continue the intensive fighting and try to have IDF forces free hostages | 65% | 12% | 56% |
Release all the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel in return for the release of all the hostages, even if this means agreeing to Hamas’s demand to halt the fighting |
16% | 63% | 24% |
DK | 13% | 25% | 15% |
In your opinion, should Israel have agreed to the current deal for the release of hostages, which includes (among other elements) a temporary ceasefire and the phased release of hostages (women and children only) in exchange for the release of three times as many female and juvenile Palestinian terrorists? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, November 27-30, 2023)
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
Certain it should have agreed |
29% | 47% | 32% |
Think it should have agreed |
33% | 25% | 32% |
Think it should not have agreed | 17% | 7% | 15% |
Certain it should not have agreed | 9% | 9% | 9% |
DK | 13% | 13% | 13% |
To what extent, if at all, do you feel a change in relations between Jews and Arabs in Israel since the start of the war? (INSS, November 16-19, 2023)
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | |
Feel a change for the better |
12% | 5% |
Feel no change |
29% | 30% |
Feel a change for the worse | 51% | 54% |
DK | 9% | 11% |
In your opinion, should the State of Israel conduct negotiations with Hamas for the release of kidnapped Israelis in return for the release of Hamas prisoners from Israeli prisons? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, October 15-17, 2023, November 5-6, 2023)
October 2023 | November 2023 | |||||
Israeli Jews |
Israeli Arabs |
Total |
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
Yes, immediately, even if it means halting the fighting |
9% |
60% |
18% |
10% | 75% | 21% |
Yes, immediately, but don’t stop the fighting |
37% |
6% |
32% |
44% | 6% | 38% |
Not right now; only at the end of the fighting | 16% | 7% | 14% | 12% | 4% | 10% |
No | 27% | 7% | 24% | 27% | 2% | 22% |
DK | 10% | 19% | 12% | 6% | 13% | 7% |
To what extent did the government’s focus on advancing its judicial reforms affect the timing chosen by Hamas to carry out its attack on October 7: (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, November 5-6, 2023)
2023 | |||
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
Not at all |
17% | 13% | 16% |
Not so much |
10% | 18% | 11% |
Quite a lot | 26% | 30% | 26% |
Very much | 36% | 30% | 35% |
DK | 12% | 9% | 12% |
To what extent did the government’s focus on advancing its judicial reforms affect Israel’s preparedness for such an attack: (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, November 5-6, 2023)
2023 | |||
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
Not at all |
16% | 16% | 16% |
Not so much |
12% | 16% | 13% |
Quite a lot | 20% | 21% | 20% |
Very much | 42% | 35% | 41% |
DK | 11% | 12% | 11% |
How would you rate the resilience of the Israeli public during the war until now? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, November 5-6, 2023)
2023 | |||
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
High |
90% | 58% | 84% |
Low |
7% | 29% | 10% |
DK | 3% | 13% | 5% |
In your opinion, when the fighting in the Gaza Strip is over, what should Israel do? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, November 5-6, 2023)
2023 | |||
Israeli Jews | Israeli Arabs | Total | |
Retain a military presence in the Gaza Strip for now and maintain security control |
29% | 7% | 25% |
Remain in the Gaza Strip and establish Jewish settlements there |
30% | 1% | 25% |
Leave the Gaza Strip and relinquish any economic or humanitarian responsibility for Gaza | 33% | 71% | 40% |
DK | 7% | 22% | 10% |
Should the military immediately escalate to a large-scale ground offensive? (Maariv, October 27, 2023)
2023 | |
Yes |
29% |
It would be better to wait |
49% |
Undecided |
22% |
Does the government currently have a clear plan of action for the next phases of the operation in Gaza? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, October 15-17, 2023)
2023 | |
Certain/Think it does |
44% |
Certain/Think it does not |
47% |
DK |
10% |
Hezbollah has fired on northern Israel over recent days. With which of the following two statements do you agree more? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, October 15-17, 2023)
Israeli Jews |
Israeli Arabs |
Total |
|
Israel should make every effort to refrain from opening another front |
37% |
63% |
42% |
Israel should strike against Hezbollah now in prevent to avoid an attack |
48% |
15% |
43% |
Don’t know |
15% |
22% |
16% |
To what extent do you think that Israel should take into consideration the suffering of the civilian Palestinian population in Gaza when planning the next phases of fighting there? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, October 15-17, 2023)
Israeli Jews |
Israeli Arabs |
Total |
|
Not at all |
48% |
1% |
40% |
Not so much |
36% |
5% |
31% |
Quite a lot | 8% | 21% | 10% |
Very much |
5% |
62% |
15% |
DK | 4% | 11% | 5% |
Do you agree or disagree that when undertaking military operations, the IDF should ensure that it is not breaking international laws and rules of war? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, October 15-17, 2023)
Israeli Jews |
Israeli Arabs |
Total |
|
Agree |
48% |
83% |
54% |
Disagree |
46% |
5% |
39% |
DK | 7% | 13% | 7% |
A few days ago Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said that Hamas, with its continuing provocations, is trying to drag Israel into a wide-scale military operation in Gaza. Do you agree or disagree with that assessment?
(The Peace Index, July 2018)
Israeli Jews |
Israeli Arabs |
General Public |
|
Strongly agree |
27.7% |
22.3% |
26.8% |
Moderately agree |
41.9% |
12% |
36.9% |
Don’t agree so much |
17.7% |
19.6% |
18% |
Don’t agree at all |
6.1% |
33.8% |
10.7% |
Don’t know/decline to answer |
6.6% |
12.3% |
7.5% |
If Hamas violates the ceasefire, then in terms of Israel’s interests will it be a good move or not a good move, in your opinion, to launch a wide-scale military operation against Hamas in Gaza?
(The Peace Index, July 2018)
Israeli Jews |
Israeli Arabs |
General Public |
|
I’m sure it would not be a good move |
11.4% |
47.3% |
17.4% |
I think it might not be a good move |
19.6% |
22.1% |
20% |
I think it would be a good move |
34.9% |
9.2% |
30.6% |
I’m sure it would be a good move |
26.5% |
6.9% |
23.3% |
Don’t know/decline to answer |
7.7% |
14.6% |
8.8% |
What, in your opinion, are the chances that in the coming year a war will break out between Israel and Hamas in Gaza?
(The Peace Index, June 2017)
Israeli Jews |
Israeli Arabs |
General Public |
|
Very low chances |
6.3% |
17.5% |
8.2% |
Moderately low chances |
29.5% |
15% |
27.0% |
Moderately high chances |
40.4% |
33.2% |
39.2% |
Very high chances |
15.4% |
26% |
17.2% |
Don’t know/decline to answer |
8.4% |
8.3% |
8.3% |
Would you be in support of a unilateral or bilateral cease-fire at this time? (The Jerusalem Post, July 29, 2014)
Would support a unilateral cease-fire |
20% |
Would support a bilateral cease-fire |
33% |
In your opinion, has Israel used an excessive amount of force against Hamas during Operation Protective Edge? (The Jerusalem Post, July 29, 2014)
Israel has used an excessive amount of force |
<4% |
Israel has used the appropriate amount of force |
96% |
In your opinion, should Israel launch an extensive ground operation today in Gaza in light of the rocket fire from Gaza to Israel? (Interdisciplinary Research and Consulting Institute Ltd, July 8th, 2014)
Yes |
48% |
No |
41% |
Don’t Know and Other |
11% |
Do you believe that the fighting between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza... (PIPA, November 26, 2012)
All Israelis |
Israeli Jews |
|
will end for good only when there is a political final status agreement with the Palestinians |
29% |
27% |
will end only through a major Israeli military campaign |
15% |
15% |
will end only if Israel reoccupies Gaza |
12% |
13% |
will not end |
40% |
42% |
don’t know/refused |
4% |
-- |
Regarding what is happening these days, do you think Israel is better or worse off than before the escalation in the Gaza Strip front? (PIPA, November 26, 2012)
All Israelis |
Israeli Jews |
|
better |
36% |
38% |
worse |
21% |
16% |
the same |
38% |
42% |
don’t know/refused |
5% |
-- |
Who, in your opinion, won the combat in the Gaza Strip? (PIPA, November 26, 2012)
All Israelis |
Israeli Jews |
|
Israel |
40% |
44% |
Hamas |
11% |
10% |
Neither |
45% |
44% |
don’t know/refused |
5% |
-- |
Do you support signing a ceasefire with Hamas? (Channel 2, November 21, 2012)
Yes |
24% |
No |
70% |
Don’t know |
6% |
How long do you believe the ceasefire will hold? (Channel 2, November 21, 2012)
A short while |
64% |
Won’t last long |
24% |
For a long time |
7% |
Did Operation Pillar of Defense reinstate Israel’s deterrence? (Channel 2, November 21, 2012)
It has been strengthened |
58% |
It was weakened |
15% |
It hasn’t changed |
26% |
Should Israel launch a military operation in Gaza? (New Wave for Yisrael Hayom, November 1, 2011)
Yes |
56.9% |
No |
28.7% |
Don’t know |
14.4% |
Do you think the recent military operation of Israel in Gaza was stopped by Israel too early, too late, or in the right time? (Truman Research Institute/PCPSR, March 1-7, 2009)
Too early |
66% |
Too late |
15% |
In the right time |
16% |
Given the outcome of the Israeli operation in Gaza, do you believe Palestinians are better off, worse off, or about the same as they were before the operation? (Truman Research Institute/PCPSR, March 1-7, 2009)
Better off |
16% |
Worse off |
58% |
About the same |
22% |
In the aftermath of the Israeli operation in Gaza, what do you expect will happen between the two sides? (Truman Research Institute/PCPSR, March 1-7, 2009)
They will return to negotiations and armed confrontations will stop |
7% |
They will return to negotiations but some armed confrontations will continue |
51% |
Thew will not return to negotiations and armed confrontations will not stop |
40% |
On a scale of 1 (very disappointed) to 5 (very satisfied), how would you rate your feelings of the results of Operation Cast Lead? (The Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research, Peace Index - February 2009)
1- Very disappointed |
20.1% |
2 |
13.0% |
3 |
28.8% |
4 |
18.7% |
5- Very satisfied |
15.4% |
No opinion/I don’t know |
4.0% |
Which of the following statements do you agree with most regarding your opinion of Operation Cast Lead? (The Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research, Peace Index - February 2009)
Israel should have continued the operation until Hamas surrendered rather than give in to the international pressure to stop the fighting |
56.2% |
The operation ended at the right time based on the circumstances |
21.7% |
The operation should have ended earlier, after the air operations |
15.1% |
No opinion/I don’t know |
7.0% |
Do you think Israel should or should not negotiate with Hamas? (The Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research, Peace Index - February 2009)
Support negotiations |
45.2% |
Oppose negotiations |
50.7% |
No opinion/I don’t know |
4.2% |
Do generally support or oppose IDF Operation Cast Lead? (Independent Media Review & Analysis, Tel Aviv University, TNS Polling; January 2, 2009; January 4-6, 2009; January 9, 2009)
January 2, 2009 |
January 4-6, 2009 |
January 9, 2009 |
|
Support |
93.1% |
94.2% |
91.4% |
Oppose |
3.9% |
3.2% |
3.8% |
I don’t know/No answer |
3% |
2.6% |
4.8% |
What do you think are the chances that IDF Operation Cast Lead will achieve all of its objectives? (Tel Aviv University, January 4-6, 2009)
Very low chance |
6% |
Fairly low chance |
14.7% |
Fairly high chance |
51.7% |
Very high chance |
18.5% |
I don’t know/No answer |
9.1% |
Do you think the air force attacks in Gaza are justified or not justified in light of the destruction of infrastructure and suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip that they are causing? (Tel Aviv University, January 4-6, 2009)
Justified |
91.7% |
Not justified |
6% |
I don’t know/No answer |
2.4% |
Does IDF Operation Cast Lead benefit or harm Israel from a security perspective? (Tel Aviv University, January 4-6, 2009)
Benefit |
91.6% |
Harm |
4% |
I don’t know/No answer |
4.4% |
On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you in each of the following in their leadership role during IDF Operation Cast Lead? (Tel Aviv University, January 4-6, 2009)
Ehud Olmert |
Ehud Barak |
Tzipi Livni |
Binyamin Netanyahu |
Shimon Peres |
Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi |
|
1- No confidence |
18.7% |
9.9% |
13.1% |
15.5% |
11.1% |
2.8% |
2 |
8.3% |
5.4% |
7% |
6% |
5% |
1.6% |
3- Medium confidence |
25% |
19.9% |
23.1% |
19.3% |
14.7% |
6% |
4 |
16.9% |
20.7% |
20.1% |
16.7% |
15.1% |
10.3% |
5- Full confidence |
27% |
41.4% |
33% |
36.4% |
47.7% |
74.8% |
I don’t know/No answer |
4% |
2.8% |
3.8% |
6.2% |
6.4% |
4.6% |
Should the IDF continue the battle in Gaza or has the time come for a ceasefire? (Independent Media Review & Analysis; December 30, 2008; January 6, 2009)
December 30, 2008 |
January 6, 2009 |
|
Continue |
81% |
70% |
Ceasefire |
10% |
20% |
Other replies |
9% |
10% |
After five days of battle against Hamas, what do you think Israel should do now? (Independent Media Review & Analysis; January 2, 2009)
Air operation only |
39.6% |
Ground operation |
41.8% |
Ceasefire now |
9.3% |
Is Prime Minister Ehud Olmert handling the war in Gaza today better or worse than he managed the Second Lebanon War? (Independent Media Review & Analysis; December 31, 2008)
Better |
64% |
Worse |
7% |
No significant difference |
9% |
Don’t know/other replies |
20% |
Do you support a military operation in the Gaza Strip? (Midgam; December 24, 2008)
Support |
60% |
Oppose |
23% |
Don’t know/other replies |
17% |
Do you support a ground operation in the Gaza Strip that may cause losses among IDF soldiers? (Dialogue, Ha’aretz; December 23, 2008)
Support |
40% |
Do not support |
46% |
Don’t know/other replies |
14% |
Note: We are presenting raw data. When available, we provide some or all of the crosstabs (i.e., breakdowns by various categories such as party ID). To analyze the data, we encourage users to read the entire study and the methodology used. Results and reliability can be affected by such things as sample size, question wording, and question order. Responses may also be influenced by context and timing; for example, if the survey is conducted during a war.
Should the military immediately escalate to a large-scale ground offensive? (Maariv, October 27, 2023)
2023 | |
Yes |
29% |
It would be better to wait |
49% |
Undecided |
22% |
A few days ago Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said that Hamas, with its continuing provocations, is trying to drag Israel into a wide-scale military operation in Gaza. Do you agree or disagree with that assessment?
(The Peace Index, July 2018)
Israeli Jews |
Israeli Arabs |
General Public |
|
Strongly agree |
27.7% |
22.3% |
26.8% |
Moderately agree |
41.9% |
12% |
36.9% |
Don’t agree so much |
17.7% |
19.6% |
18% |
Don’t agree at all |
6.1% |
33.8% |
10.7% |
Don’t know/decline to answer |
6.6% |
12.3% |
7.5% |
If Hamas violates the ceasefire, then in terms of Israel’s interests will it be a good move or not a good move, in your opinion, to launch a wide-scale military operation against Hamas in Gaza?
(The Peace Index, July 2018)
Israeli Jews |
Israeli Arabs |
General Public |
|
I’m sure it would not be a good move |
11.4% |
47.3% |
17.4% |
I think it might not be a good move |
19.6% |
22.1% |
20% |
I think it would be a good move |
34.9% |
9.2% |
30.6% |
I’m sure it would be a good move |
26.5% |
6.9% |
23.3% |
Don’t know/decline to answer |
7.7% |
14.6% |
8.8% |
What, in your opinion, are the chances that in the coming year a war will break out between Israel and Hamas in Gaza?
(The Peace Index, June 2017)
Israeli Jews |
Israeli Arabs |
General Public |
|
Very low chances |
6.3% |
17.5% |
8.2% |
Moderately low chances |
29.5% |
15% |
27.0% |
Moderately high chances |
40.4% |
33.2% |
39.2% |
Very high chances |
15.4% |
26% |
17.2% |
Don’t know/decline to answer |
8.4% |
8.3% |
8.3% |
Would you be in support of a unilateral or bilateral cease-fire at this time? (The Jerusalem Post, July 29, 2014)
Would support a unilateral cease-fire |
20% |
Would support a bilateral cease-fire |
33% |
In your opinion, has Israel used an excessive amount of force against Hamas during Operation Protective Edge? (The Jerusalem Post, July 29, 2014)
Israel has used an excessive amount of force |
<4% |
Israel has used the appropriate amount of force |
96% |
In your opinion, should Israel launch an extensive ground operation today in Gaza in light of the rocket fire from Gaza to Israel? (Interdisciplinary Research and Consulting Institute Ltd, July 8th, 2014)
Yes |
48% |
No |
41% |
Don’t Know and Other |
11% |
Do you believe that the fighting between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza... (PIPA, November 26, 2012)
All Israelis |
Israeli Jews |
|
will end for good only when there is a political final status agreement with the Palestinians |
29% |
27% |
will end only through a major Israeli military campaign |
15% |
15% |
will end only if Israel reoccupies Gaza |
12% |
13% |
will not end |
40% |
42% |
don’t know/refused |
4% |
-- |
Regarding what is happening these days, do you think Israel is better or worse off than before the escalation in the Gaza Strip front? (PIPA, November 26, 2012)
All Israelis |
Israeli Jews |
|
better |
36% |
38% |
worse |
21% |
16% |
the same |
38% |
42% |
don’t know/refused |
5% |
-- |
Who, in your opinion, won the combat in the Gaza Strip? (PIPA, November 26, 2012)
All Israelis |
Israeli Jews |
|
Israel |
40% |
44% |
Hamas |
11% |
10% |
Neither |
45% |
44% |
don’t know/refused |
5% |
-- |
Do you support signing a ceasefire with Hamas? (Channel 2, November 21, 2012)
Yes |
24% |
No |
70% |
Don’t know |
6% |
How long do you believe the ceasefire will hold? (Channel 2, November 21, 2012)
A short while |
64% |
Won’t last long |
24% |
For a long time |
7% |
Did Operation Pillar of Defense reinstate Israel’s deterrence? (Channel 2, November 21, 2012)
It has been strengthened |
58% |
It was weakened |
15% |
It hasn’t changed |
26% |
Should Israel launch a military operation in Gaza? (New Wave for Yisrael Hayom, November 1, 2011)
Yes |
56.9% |
No |
28.7% |
Don’t know |
14.4% |
Do you think the recent military operation of Israel in Gaza was stopped by Israel too early, too late, or in the right time? (Truman Research Institute/PCPSR, March 1-7, 2009)
Too early |
66% |
Too late |
15% |
In the right time |
16% |
Given the outcome of the Israeli operation in Gaza, do you believe Palestinians are better off, worse off, or about the same as they were before the operation? (Truman Research Institute/PCPSR, March 1-7, 2009)
Better off |
16% |
Worse off |
58% |
About the same |
22% |
In the aftermath of the Israeli operation in Gaza, what do you expect will happen between the two sides? (Truman Research Institute/PCPSR, March 1-7, 2009)
They will return to negotiations and armed confrontations will stop |
7% |
They will return to negotiations but some armed confrontations will continue |
51% |
Thew will not return to negotiations and armed confrontations will not stop |
40% |
On a scale of 1 (very disappointed) to 5 (very satisfied), how would you rate your feelings of the results of Operation Cast Lead? (The Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research, Peace Index - February 2009)
1- Very disappointed |
20.1% |
2 |
13.0% |
3 |
28.8% |
4 |
18.7% |
5- Very satisfied |
15.4% |
No opinion/I don’t know |
4.0% |
Which of the following statements do you agree with most regarding your opinion of Operation Cast Lead? (The Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research, Peace Index - February 2009)
Israel should have continued the operation until Hamas surrendered rather than give in to the international pressure to stop the fighting |
56.2% |
The operation ended at the right time based on the circumstances |
21.7% |
The operation should have ended earlier, after the air operations |
15.1% |
No opinion/I don’t know |
7.0% |
Do you think Israel should or should not negotiate with Hamas? (The Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research, Peace Index - February 2009)
Support negotiations |
45.2% |
Oppose negotiations |
50.7% |
No opinion/I don’t know |
4.2% |
Do generally support or oppose IDF Operation Cast Lead? (Independent Media Review & Analysis, Tel Aviv University, TNS Polling; January 2, 2009; January 4-6, 2009; January 9, 2009)
January 2, 2009 |
January 4-6, 2009 |
January 9, 2009 |
|
Support |
93.1% |
94.2% |
91.4% |
Oppose |
3.9% |
3.2% |
3.8% |
I don’t know/No answer |
3% |
2.6% |
4.8% |
What do you think are the chances that IDF Operation Cast Lead will achieve all of its objectives? (Tel Aviv University, January 4-6, 2009)
Very low chance |
6% |
Fairly low chance |
14.7% |
Fairly high chance |
51.7% |
Very high chance |
18.5% |
I don’t know/No answer |
9.1% |
Do you think the air force attacks in Gaza are justified or not justified in light of the destruction of infrastructure and suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip that they are causing? (Tel Aviv University, January 4-6, 2009)
Justified |
91.7% |
Not justified |
6% |
I don’t know/No answer |
2.4% |
Does IDF Operation Cast Lead benefit or harm Israel from a security perspective? (Tel Aviv University, January 4-6, 2009)
Benefit |
91.6% |
Harm |
4% |
I don’t know/No answer |
4.4% |
On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you in each of the following in their leadership role during IDF Operation Cast Lead? (Tel Aviv University, January 4-6, 2009)
Ehud Olmert |
Ehud Barak |
Tzipi Livni |
Binyamin Netanyahu |
Shimon Peres |
Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi |
|
1- No confidence |
18.7% |
9.9% |
13.1% |
15.5% |
11.1% |
2.8% |
2 |
8.3% |
5.4% |
7% |
6% |
5% |
1.6% |
3- Medium confidence |
25% |
19.9% |
23.1% |
19.3% |
14.7% |
6% |
4 |
16.9% |
20.7% |
20.1% |
16.7% |
15.1% |
10.3% |
5- Full confidence |
27% |
41.4% |
33% |
36.4% |
47.7% |
74.8% |
I don’t know/No answer |
4% |
2.8% |
3.8% |
6.2% |
6.4% |
4.6% |
Should the IDF continue the battle in Gaza or has the time come for a ceasefire? (Independent Media Review & Analysis; December 30, 2008; January 6, 2009)
December 30, 2008 |
January 6, 2009 |
|
Continue |
81% |
70% |
Ceasefire |
10% |
20% |
Other replies |
9% |
10% |
After five days of battle against Hamas, what do you think Israel should do now? (Independent Media Review & Analysis; January 2, 2009)
Air operation only |
39.6% |
Ground operation |
41.8% |
Ceasefire now |
9.3% |
Is Prime Minister Ehud Olmert handling the war in Gaza today better or worse than he managed the Second Lebanon War? (Independent Media Review & Analysis; December 31, 2008)
Better |
64% |
Worse |
7% |
No significant difference |
9% |
Don’t know/other replies |
20% |
Do you support a military operation in the Gaza Strip? (Midgam; December 24, 2008)
Support |
60% |
Oppose |
23% |
Don’t know/other replies |
17% |
Do you support a ground operation in the Gaza Strip that may cause losses among IDF soldiers? (Dialogue, Ha’aretz; December 23, 2008)
Support | |
Do not support | |
Don’t know/other replies |