Israeli Public Opinion Polls: Opinion on Unilateral Measures
(2001 - 2004)
Should Israel withdraw from the Gaza Strip even if the terror groups continue carrying out attacks? (Maariv, December 17, 2004)
| Yes | 55% |
| Not while terror | 18% |
| Oppose withdrawal regardless | 22% |
Should there be a national referendum on disengagement? (Dahaf - for Yediot Ahronot, November 19, 2004)
| Yes | 54% |
| No | 46% |
After Arafat's death, should the disengagement plan be continued? (Dahaf - for Yediot Ahronot, November 19, 2004)
| Yes-unilaterally | 25% |
| Try for disengagement with agreement | 54% |
| Don't disengage | 17% |
How should the disengagement be decided? (Dahaf - for Yediot Ahronot, October 25, 2004)
| Knesset | 39% |
| National Referendum | 40% |
| Elections | 19% |
Do you know what is included in the disengagement plan? (Dahaf - for Yediot Ahronot, October 25, 2004)
| Yes | 53% |
| No | 47% |
Do you favor the disengagement plan? (Dahaf - for Yediot Ahronot , October 25, 2004)
| Yes | 65% |
| No | 26% |
Are you for or against carrying out a national referendum on the plan to disengage from the Katif Bloc and Gaza Strip? (Israel TV, October 18, 2004)
| For | 57% |
| Against | 32% |
| Other | 11% |
And if a referendum takes place on the matter of disengagement from the Katif Bloc and Gaza Strip how would you vote? (Israel TV, October 18, 2004)
| For | 62% |
| Against | 26% |
| Other | 12% |
Are you concerned [IMRA: "choshesh" - "concern, fear"] that a national referendum on disengagement would be a precedent for additional national referendums on controversial matters? (Israel TV, October 18, 2004)
| Yes | 38% |
| No | 50% |
| Other | 12% |
Do you think that the Israeli public is close or far from civil war? (Israel TV, October 18, 2004)
| Close | 36% |
| Far | 52% |
| Other | 12% |
Would the evacuation of Jewish communities from Gaza exacerbate, reduce, wipeout, won't influence terror? (Ariel Center for Policy Research, June 27, 2004)
| Increase terrorism | 37% |
| Decrease terrorism | 15% |
| No effect | 10% |
| No opinion | 14% |
Would the evacuation of Jewish communities from Gaza bring peace closer, farther, no difference? (Ariel Center for Policy Research, June 27, 2004)
| Advance peace with the Palestineans | 36% |
| Regress peace with the Palestineans | 35% |
| No effect | 18% |
| No opinion | 11% |
Would the evacuation of Jewish communities from Gaza increase, reduce threat of missiles on Ashqelon, Ashdod and the Negev? (Ariel Center for Policy Research, June 27, 2004)
| Magnify the threats of missiles | 55% |
| Diminish the threats of missiles | 25% |
| No effect | 9% |
| No opinion | 11% |
Would the evacuation of Jewish communities from Gaza accelerate, or slowdown the flow of military hardware to Palestinians? (Ariel Center for Policy Research, June 27, 2004)
| Accelerate the flow | 61% |
| Slow down the flow | 15% |
| No effect | 10% |
| No opinion | 14% |
Would the evacuation of Jewish communities from Gaza increase, or reduce Palestinian motivation to fight Israel? (Ariel Center for Policy Research, June 27, 2004)
| Escalate Palestinean motivation to fight Israel | 51% |
| Diminish Palestinean motivation to fight Israel | 32% |
| Have no effect | 8% |
| No opinion | 9% |
Would the introduction of Egyptian troops to Gaza promote, undermine Israel's interests? (Ariel Center for Policy Research, June 27, 2004)
| Undermine Israel's counter terrorism efforts | 71% |
| Promote Israel's counter terrorism efforts | 15% |
| No effect | 7% |
| No opinion | 6% |
Would the introduction of Egyptian troops to Gaza undermine or promote Israel's national security? (Ariel Center for Policy Research, June 27, 2004)
| Undermine Israel's security | 48% |
| Enhance Israel's security | 39% |
| No opinion | 13% |
Would the introduction of Egyptian troops to Gaza preclude or necessitate Israeli military operations against Gaza terrorism? (Ariel Center for Policy Research, June 27, 2004)
| Require Israel's counter-terrorism operation in Gaza | 72% |
| Preclude Israel's counter-terrorism operation in Gaza | 16% |
| No opinion | 12% |
Do you support, or oppose, the evacuation of Jewish communities in Gaza and northern Samaria? (Ariel Center for Policy Research, June 27, 2004)
| Support the evacuation | 49% |
| Oppose the evacuation | 44% |
| No opinion | 7% |
A Maariv Teleseker TNS poll found that the prime minister is backed by 51% of the Israeli public and 61% of Likud members. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu is only supported by 24% of the general public and 25% of Likud members.
The survey also revealed that both the general public and Likud members back Sharon's disengagement plan. According to the poll, 55% of the public and 54% of Likud members support Sharon's intention to pull out of the Gaza Strip and evacuate West Bank settlements.
On the same issue, Netanyahu, who in recent days criticized Sharon's plan, enjoys the support of only 32% of the public and 31% of Likud members. (Source: Maariv, June 1, 2004)
If a referendum were held on the disengagement plan today and you were to take part, how would you vote? (Source: Maariv/Teleseeker Poll, May 14, 2004 - reprinted in the Washington Post, May 30, 2004)
| Favor | Against | No response | |
| All votes | 58% | 31% | 11% |
| Supporters of Likud | 54% | 33% | 13% |
Which of the following views do you support? (Source: Maariv/Teleseeker Poll, May 14, 2004 - reprinted in the Washington Post, May 30, 2004)
| Leave Gaza immediately with an agreement or unilaterally | 40% |
| Leave Gaza, but only with an agreement with an authorized body | 39% |
| Do not leave Gaza under any circumstances | 18% |
| No opinion | 3% |
Are you for or against a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip? (Source: Machon Dahaf/ Yediot Aharanoth, May 14, 2004 - Reprinted in the Washington Post).
| Favor | Against | No response | |
| April 2004 | 62% | 32% | 6% |
| May 2004 | 71% | 24% | 5% |
In your opinion, will we leave the Gaza Strip in the end? (Source: Machon Dahaf/ Yediot Aharanoth, May 14, 2004 - Reprinted in the Washington Post).
| Certainly that we will leave | 42% |
| Think we will leave | 31% |
| Think we will not leave | 13% |
| Certain we will not leave | 6% |
| No response | 8% |
"Brain Base" ["Maagar Mochot"] under the direction of Prof. Y. Katz for Israel Radio's "Another Matter" program during the morning and afternoon 25 May [a working day that was also Shavuot Eve.]
Do you support or oppose the prime minister's plan to carry out the disengagement plan in four stages where the first stage includes the evacuation of Netzarim, Kfar Darom and Morag and before every additional stage there will be a new cabinet vote? (IMRA, May 27, 2004)
| Total | Likud Members | |
| Support | 60% | 47% |
| Oppose | 31% | 38% |
| Other | 9% | 15% |
Would you consider the passage of the disengagement plan in the Government a violation of Ariel Sharon's decision towards the Likud members? (IMRA: Decision to honor the outcome of the Likud referendum) (IMRA, May 27, 2004)
| Total | Likud Members | |
| Support | 47% | 43% |
| Oppose | 40% | 31% |
| Other | 13% | 26% |
Would you support a smaller disengagement plan that includes only the evacuation of Netzarim, Kfar Darom and Morag, without additional stages? (IMRA, May 27, 2004)
| Total | Likud Members | |
| Support | 35% | 46% |
| Oppose | 55% | 48% |
| Other | 10% | 6% |
Would you consider the passage of the smaller disengagement plan in the Government a violation of Ariel Sharon's decision towards the Likud members? (IMRA, May 27, 2004)
| Total | Likud Members | |
| Support | 43% | 35% |
| Oppose | 36% | 57% |
| Other | 21% | 8% |
Do you support or oppose the approval in principle of the disengagement plan in the Government without detailing at this stage the measures that will be taken in the future? (IMRA, May 27, 2004)
| Total | Likud Members | |
| Support | 31% | 45% |
| Oppose | 56% | 49% |
| Other | 13% | 6% |
Do you support or oppose the firing of ministers Sharansky and Landau by the prime minister as a measure to help him get a majority for his plan in the Government? (IMRA, May 27, 2004)
| Total | Likud Members | |
| Support | 41% | 22% |
| Oppose | 50% | 68% |
| Other | 9% | 10% |
Should treasury minister Binyamin Netanyahu lead the opposition to Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan? (IMRA, May 27, 2004)
| Total | Likud Members | |
| Support | 14% | 16% |
| Oppose | 66% | 67% |
| Other | 20% | 17% |
If the Government passes the smaller disengagement plan that includes only the evacuation of Netzarim, Kfar Darom and Morag, without additional stages, should the National Union leave the Government? (IMRA, May 27, 2004)
| Total | National Union Voters | |
| Yes | 21% | 41% |
| No | 48% | 21% |
| Other | 31% | 38% |
If the Government passes the smaller disengagement plan should the NRP leave the Government? (IMRA, May 27, 2004)
| Total | NRP | |
| Yes | 21% | 41% |
| No | 48% | 21% |
| Other | 31% | 38% |
If National Union and the NRP leave the Government should the Labor Party join the Government? (IMRA, May 27, 2004)
| Total | Labor | |
| Yes | 53% | 56% |
| No | 28% | 40% |
| Other | 19% | 4% |
And if only National Union leaves the Government should the Labor Party join the Government? (IMRA, May 27, 2004)
| Total | Labor | |
| Yes | 50% | 51% |
| No | 28% | 38% |
| Other | 22% | 11% |
Likud Referendum on Sharon's Unilateral Withdrawal Plan Defeated by Vote of 59.5% against and 39.7% for (Jerusalem Post, May 3, 2004)
(Registered Likud members) Will the referendum be a vote of confidence in Sharon (April 28, Dahaf/ Yediot Ahronot)
| Total | Among Plan Supporters | Among Plan Opponents | |
| Yes | 38% | 58% | 23% |
| No | 54% | 38% | 69% |
(Registered Likud members) Would the evacuation of the Gaza Strip be a precedent for the evacuation of settlements in Judea and Samaria?(April 28, Dahaf / Yediot Ahronot)
| Total | Among Plan Supporters | Among Plan Opponents | |
| Yes | 67% | 48% | 79% |
| No | 25% | 44% | 14% |
Would the disengagement reduce terror? (April 28, Dahaf / Yediot Ahronot)
| Reduce | 28% |
| No change | 26% |
| Increase | 35% |
Would the disengagement strengthened Israel's security? (April 28, Dahaf/Yediot Ahronot)
| Strengthen | 35% |
| No change | 15% |
| Weaken it | 42% |
(Registered Likud members) How will you vote [in the Likud referendum for Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan]? (Haaretz/Dialog Poll, April 30, 2004)
| April 30, 2004 | April 21, 2004 | |
| For the plan | 36% | 47% |
| Against the plan | 43% | 40% |
| Undecided | 9% | 10% |
| Don't know / refused to answer | 5% | 3% |
(Registered Likud members) Do you intend to vote [in the Likud referendum for Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan]? (Haaretz/Dialog Poll, April 30, 2004)
| April 30, 2004 | April 21, 2004 | |
| Will definitely vote | 70% | 68% |
| May vote | 15% | 15% |
| May not vote | 4% | 3% |
| Will definitely not vote | 5% | 7% |
| Don't know / undecided | 6% | 7% |
(Registered Likud members) How would you vote if the referendum were a no confidence vote in Sharon? (Haaretz/Dialog Poll, April 30, 2004)
| Against the plan | 42% |
| For the plan | 36% |
| Refused to answer | 10% |
| Don't know | 6% |
| Undecided | 7% |
(Registered Likud members) Do you support Sharon's unilateral withdrawal plan? (Globes, April 29, 2004)
| Oppose the plan | 46% |
| Favor the plan | 45% |
| Still deciding | 9% |
| Refuse to answer | 8% |
(Registered Likud members) Did you change your mind in the last few days? (Yediot Ahronot, April 22, 2004)
| Yes | 11% |
| No | 89% |
(Registered Likud members) What is the main reason you changed your mind? (Yediot Ahronot, April 22, 2004)
| Media appearances of personalities | 21% |
| Learned plan | 16% |
| Met representatives | 14% |
| Bush declaration | 6% |
| Decision of ministers | 5% |
| All the above | 5% |
| None of the above | 53.2% |
(Registered Likud members) Do you support or oppose the disengagement plan of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon? (Source: Israel Radio)
| April 28, 2004 | April 21, 2004 | |
| Support | 43% | 51% |
| Oppose | 47% | 39% |
| Other | 10% | 10% |
(Registered Likud members) Do you plan to go and vote in the referendum on the disengagement plan? (Source: Israel Radio)
| April 28, 2004 | April 21, 2004 | |
| Yes | 63% | 68% |
| No | 11% | 16% |
| Other | 26% | 16% |
(Registered Likud members) Of those respondents who plan to vote: (Source: Israel Radio)
| April 28, 2004 | April 21, 2004 | |
| Support plan | 43% | 54% |
| Oppose | 51% | 41% |
| Other | 6% | 5% |
(Registered Likud members) Do you think that it is justified that Likud members should decide about the disengagement plan for the nation? (Source: Israel Radio, April 21, 2004)
| Yes | 49% |
| No | 31% |
| Other | 20% |
(Registered Likud members) For each of the following Likud ministers,do you think that their position has strengthened or weakened due to their support for the prime minister's disengagement plan? ( Israel Radio, April 21, 2004)
| Weakened | No change | Strengthened | Other | |
| Olmert | 11% | 36% | 24% | 29% |
| Mofaz | 5% | 54% | 21% | 20% |
| Netanyahu | 39% | 28% | 11% | 22% |
| Shalom | 22% | 43% | 4% | 31% |
| Livnat | 38% | 27% | 2% | 33% |
Shvakim Panorama for Israel Radio's "Another Matter" program - Sample of 511 registered Likud members
Do you support or oppose the disengagement plan of the prime minister? (Israel Radio, April 14, 2004)
| Support | 50.6% |
| Oppose | 39.7% |
| Undecided | 9.7% |
To what extent do you plan to go and vote in the referendum of Likud members on the disengagement plan of the Prime Minister? (Israel Radio, April 14, 2004)
| Certain yes | 69.1% |
| Think yes | 12.2% |
| Think no | 5.3% |
| Certain no | 9.4% |
| Undecided | 4.1% |
Cross-tabulation:
| Support | Oppose | Undecided | |
| Certain voting | 53.8% | 38.9% | 7.2% |
| Think voting | 56.4% | 38.5% | 5.1% |
| Think not voting | 47.1% | 35.3% | 17.6% |
| Certain not voting | 30.0% | 50.0% | 20.0% |
Teleseker - for Maariv Registered Likud members - 14 & 15 April
Do you support or oppose the disengagement plan of the prime minister? ( Maariv, April 14-15, 2004)
| Support | 49.4% |
| Oppose | 38.4% |
| Undecided | 12.2% |
Cross-tabulation:
| Support | Oppose | Undecided | |
| Certain voting | 51.6% | 40.3% | 8.1% |
(Dahaf Poll, Registered Likud members only) Do you support or oppose the disengagement plan of the prime minister? (Yediot Ahronot)
| April 29, 2004 | April 28, 2004 | April 22, 2004 | 4/15/2004 | March 31, 2004 | |
| Support | 40.5% | 39% | 49% | 54% | 51% |
| Oppose | 47% | 47% | 39.5% | 32% | 36% |
| Undecided | 11.5% | 14% | 7% (Not Familiar) |
Cross-tabulation:
| Support | Oppose | Undecided | |
| Certain voting | 54% | 38% | 8% |
What do you think the results will be? (Yediot Ahronot, April 15, 2004)
| For | 53% |
| Against | 27% |
| Don't know | 20% |
Will you vote? (Yediot Ahronot, April 15, 2004)
| Certain | 68% |
| Think | 23% |
| Think no | 5% |
| Certain no | 3% |
| No reply | 1% |
(Source: IMRA, April 16, 2004)
Do you support the Prime Minister Sharon's unilateral separation plan as presented at the Herzliya Conference? (Israel Radio, December 24, 2003)
Total:
| Yes | 59% |
| No | 22% |
Vote Likud:
| Yes | 41% |
| No | 38% |
Does Sharon intend to implement the unilateral separation plan? (Israel Radio, December 24, 2003)
| Doesn't intend to | 42% |
| Within 2-3 years | 17% |
| Within 1-2 years | 15% |
| Within months | 10% |
Do you support Minister Ehud Olmert's plan for a unilateral withdrawal including a withdrawal from the neighborhood in eastern Jerusalem so that in the end the demographic balance will be 80% Jewish and 20% Arab? (Israel Radio, December 10, 2003)
| Yes | 45% |
| No | 38% |
| DK | 17% |
Do you support the removal of illegal outposts? (Israel Radio, December 10, 2003)
| Yes | 69% |
| No | 23% |
| DK | 8% |
Steinmetz Peace Index
December 2003
In his speech at the Herzliya Conference the prime minister proclaimed that if the Palestinians do not cooperate in returning to diplomatic negotiations on the basis of the Road Map Israel will carry out a unilateral policy of disengagement, namely a series of actions to set a separation line, including withdrawal from Palestinian cities and evacuation of some of the settlements.
In light of the difficulties in starting the negotiations with the Palestinian which of the two possibilities do you consider preferable - acting to reach an agreement with the Palestinians even if the process takes a long time or immediate unilateral disengagement from them?
| Work on agreement | 28.9% |
| Unilateral disengagement | 58.6% |
| Don't know | 12.5% |
Do you believe that the unilateral erection of a fence, wall or the other physical means of separation by Israel can prevent or at least significantly reduce terror attacks?
10/03 | 6/03 | |
| Prevent | 19.0% | 16.3% |
| Significantly reduce | 63.1% | 56.9% |
| Not prevent or significantly reduce | 16.5% | 22.8% |
| DK | 1.3% | 1.3% |
June 2002 poll by Mina Zemach
63% of Israelis support unilateral withdrawl
69 % of Israelis support an evacuation of "all" or "most of" the settlements
60% of Israelis still believe that Israel should agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of a peace agreement.
Poll by Tel Aviv Steinmetz Center
65% of Israelis "are prepared to evacuate the settlements under a unilateral separation program."
Peace Now Poll
68% of the settlers themselves would accept withdrawal if the government decided that this was in the best interests of Israel most of the settlers (77%) were attracted to the settlements by major economic incentives, not by ideological commitment.
(Source: Brit Tzedek v'Shalom - The Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace)
Dahaf Poll - May 6, 2002 (commissioned by Peace Now)
59% of the Jewish Israelis support a unilateral withdrawal of the Israeli army from most of the disputed territories, and dismantling most of the settlements. They believe that this will renew the peace process, and this solution gives them hope
(Source: Tanya Reinhart, Yediot Aharanot)
Maariv - Gallup Poll, November 2001
In absence of a peace agreement, 53 percent of Israelis said they would favour a unilateral retreat from sections of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with a redeployment of military forces in a security zone.
Another 41 percent of Israelis said they opposed a unilateral withdrawal
(Source: Middle East Times)
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