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Israeli Public Opinion Polls: Attitudes About Other Nations

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.


See also Opinion on Settlements and Outposts

Which view do you find more acceptable? (Mitvim Foreign Policy Index, July 2023)

  2021 2022 2023

Israel should prioritize developing relationships with democratic regimes

42% 36% 42%

The type of regime should not be a consideration in Israel’s decisions on establishing relations with countries

43% 50% 44%
DK 15% 14% 14%

China has increased its involvement in the Middle East, including in the Gulf States and vis-à-vis Iran. How do you view China’s growing influence in Middle Eastern politics? (Mitvim Foreign Policy Index, July 2023)

  Arabs Jews Total

 China’s growing influence endangers Israel

33% 41% 40%

China’s influence is not significant for Israel

20% 18% 18%
China’s influence is positive for Israel 16% 13% 13$
DK 31% 28% 29%

Regarding policy on the war in Ukraine, Israel should: (Mitvim Foreign Policy Index, July 2023)

  2022 2023

Avoid taking sides so as not to anger Russia even at the expense of angering the West

53% 44%

Fully support Ukraine and the position of the liberal-democratic world

28% 33%
Fully support Russia 1% 3%
DK 18% 20%

What in your opinion are the three countries with which Israel’s relationship is the most important these days, in addition to the US? (Mitvim Foreign Policy Index, July 2023)

  2021 2022 2023

Russia

37% 40% 32%

Germany

28% 29% 31%
UK 26% 24% 28%
China 22% 23% 26%
Egypt 16% 19% 21%
France 12% 16% 20%
Saudi Arabia 3% 11% 12%
Jordan 12% 7% 12%
UAE 7% 10% 11%
Turkey 5% 11% 9%

Syria’s President Assad has apparently managed to win the civil war and reestablish his rule there. From the standpoint of Israel’s interest, is Assad’s regaining of power a positive or not a positive development? (Peace Index, July 2018)

 
General Public
Jews
Arabs
Very positive
10%
7.3%
23.6%
Moderately positive 24.5% 26.6% 14.1%
Not so positive
23.1%
24.7%
14.9%
Not positive at all 18.8% 18.8% 18.6%
Don't know/No opinion
23.6%
22.5%
28.8%

In recent years Israel has been directly and indirectly helping victims of the Syrian civil war with medical services and food. Do you support or not support this aid? (Peace Index, July 2018)

 

General Public

Jews

Arabs

Strongly support

10%

40.2%

59.3%

Moderately support 24.5% 38% 16%
Don't support so much

23.1%

11.9%

4.4%

Don't support at all 18.8% 7.2% 18.7%
Don't know/No opinion

23.6%

2.7%

1.6%

Along with the aid, Israel has made clear that it will not allow Syrian refugees to enter its territory even if their lives are endangered by Assad’s forces. In your opinion, is this approach right or not right? (Peace Index, July 2018)

 

General Public

Jews

Arabs

I'm sure it's right

45.6%

50.6%

20.6%

I think it's right 25.1% 29.3% 3.9%
I do not think it's right

11.4%

9.2%

22.2%

I'm sure it's not right 11.5% 5.1% 43.5%
Don't know/No opinion

6.5%

5.8%

9.8%

Are you more worried about external/security threats to Israel, or internal/social threats?  (National Security Index, December 2017)

 

Israeli Jews 

External/security threats

39%

Internal/social threats

24%

Worried about both equally

37%

In your opinion what is the gravest external threat to Israel today? (National Security Index, December 2017)

 

Israeli Jews 

Northern arena (Iran, Syria, Hezbollah)

31%

Iranian nuclear capability

21%

Terrorist activities against Israelis at home and abroad

9%


The Israeli-Palestinian conflict
 
21%

Hamas in Gaza
 
13%

Political isolation and the delegitimization of Israel
 
5%

Do you believe that regional cooperation between Israel and other countries in the Middle East is possible? (Mitvim Israeli Foreign Policy Index, October 2017)

 
General Public
Jews
Arabs
Yes
70%
69%
74%
No
23%
24%
14%
Don't know/No opinion
7%
7%
12%

Relations with which of the following countries are most important to Israel today in your opinion(respondents were asked to pick three)? (Mitvim Israeli Foreign Policy Index, October 2017)

 
General Public
Jews
Arabs
Russia
51%
52%
43%
Germany
34%
37%
16%
Britain
26%
26%
20%
China 25% 28% 8%
France 20% 21% 14%
Egypt 12% 13% 8%
India 8% 9% 2%
Jordan 7% 7% 12%

Where do you think that criticism voiced in the world towards Israel primarily comes from? (Mitvim Israeli Foreign Policy Index, October 2017)

 
General Public
Jews
Arabs
Basic Hostility to the State of Israel
59%
66%
14%
Disagreement With Specific Israeli Government Policies
34%
30%
59%
I don't know/ Refuse to answer
7%
4%
27%

As we know, in recent months a bloody battle has been raging in Syria between the Assad regime and opposition forces. In your opinion, in terms of Israel's interest, would it be good or bad if the Assad regime collapses? (Peace Index, February 29, 2012)

 
General Public
Jews
Arabs
Very good
20.8%
18.9%
31.1%
Moderately good
15.7%
16.7%
10.0%
Moderately bad
19.7%
18.4%
26.7%
Very bad
11.1%
8.9%
23.3%
It does not matter one way or the other
22.2%
25.7%
2.2%
I don't know/ Refuse to answer
10.6%
11.3%
6.7%

In your opinion, should or should not Israel provide aid to one side or another in the struggle in Syria, or should it sit quietly on the sidelines? (Peace Index, February 29, 2012)

 
General Public
Jews
Arabs
It should provide aid to the opposition
11.2%
9.1%
23.3%
It should provide aid to the regime
5.1%
1.5%
25.6%
It should sit quietly on the sidelines
78.8%
84.1%
48.9%
I don't know/ Refuse to answer
4.8%
5.3%
2.2%

In your opinion, should or should not Western countries provide aid to one side or another in the struggle in Syria, or should they sit quietly on the sidelines? (Peace Index, February 29, 2012)

 
General Public
Jews
Arabs
They should provide aid to the opposition
48.8%
49.8%
43.3%
They should provide aid to the regime
7.2%
4.3%
23.3%
They should sit quietly on the sidelines
33.0%
33.9%
27.8%
I don't know/ Refuse to answer
11.2%
12.0%
5.6%

The media recently reported that Israel is preparing infrastructure on the Golan Heights to absorb Syrian refugees should the situation require it. In your opinion, should or should not Israel accept Syrian refugees if their lives are in real danger? (Peace Index, February 29, 2012)

 
General Public
Jews
Arabs
I'm sure it should
14.9%
14.8%
15.6%
I think it should
27.3%
28.0%
23.3%
I think it shouldn't
24.1%
23.8%
25.6%
I'm sure it shouldn't
30.6%
30.4%
32.2%
I don't know/ Refuse to answer
3.1%
3.0%
3.3%

In light of developments in Syria, Israel should (Israel Hayom, December 13, 2011)

help the rebels in Syria
5.6%
avoid involvement
80.8%
don't know
13.6%

Do you agree of disagree with the statement that the US is a loyal ally of Israel? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Agree
65%
Disagree
11%

As an Israeli, is your attitude towards the US positive or negative? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Positive
64%
Negative
8%

Do you believe that if Israel reaches a point of serious crisis where its very existence is threatened — a "moment of truth" — the US will come to Israel's assistance? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Yes
80%

What is the the main reason why the US will continue to maintain close ties with Israel in the future? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Israel's critical role as a strategic partner of the US
48%
The political role of US Jewry
30%
Democratic tradition and shared values
17%

Do you believe that close relations between the US and Israel are essential for the security of Israel? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Yes
91%

Do you believe that President Bush's attitude towards Israel is friendly? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Yes
73%

Are US and Israeli interests in the Middle East similar? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Interests are similar
60%
Two countries have different regional interests
36%

Do you think that in the near future the US might impose a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Yes
51%
No
43%

Do you believe that if the international diplomatic effort and economic sanctions fail to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, the US "should use force" to destroy the Iranian nuclear facilities? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Yes
71%

Do you agree of disagree with the statement that in retrospect the US was correct in going to war in Iraq? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Agree
59%
Disagree
36%

Do you believe that the level of American Jewish support for Israel is sufficient? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Sufficient
52%
Insufficient
33%

Do American Jews have a right to freely and publicly criticize Israel and Israeli policies? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Yes
62%

Do you believe that US Jews are assimilating rapidly and are in danger of disappearing? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Yes
49%

Do you believe that every American Jew should visit Israel? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Yes
69%

Do you think it is possible that American Jews might vote for a presidential or congressional candidate who is anti-Israel? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Yes
57%
No
38%

Do you believe that there is anti-Semitism in the US? (Ma'gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Yes, but it is not significant
54%
Yes, it is a significant problem
36%

Do you have a favorable image of Germany? (Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, February 5-7, 2007)

Yes
67%

Would you like to see Israel join the EU? (Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, February 5-7, 2007)

Yes
75%

This week the UN marked 60 years to the liberation of Auschwitz. Do you think that a Holocaust or national genocide of a similar magnitude could happen again in the future? (Maariv, January 28, 2005)

Yes 51%
No 46%

 

Of the following countries, which two countries dislike Israel most? (Maariv, December 17, 2004)

France 86%
Germany 46%
Russia 32%
England 13%
USA 5%

How do you personally feel about France and the French? (Maariv, December 17, 2004)

Positive 16%
Negative 40%
Neutral 40%