Israeli Public Opinion Polls: Attitudes Toward Democracy in Israel

(2003 - Present)

Note: We are presenting raw data. To analyze the data, we encourage users to read the entire study and the methodology used. Results and reliability can be affected by sample size, question wording, and question order. Context and timing may also influence responses, for example, if the survey is conducted during a war.


See also  Israeli Views on Society & Government
Israeli Opinion Regarding Elections, Prime Minister
Political Corruption

How do you feel about the state of democratic governance in Israel in the foreseeable future? (Israel Democracy Institute, November 2022,  December 2023, October 28-November 3, 2024, November 30 - December 3, 2025, April 26-30, 2026)

 20192020202120222023202420252026
Optimistic32%36%45%40%
43%
37%40%44%

And how do you feel about Israel’s security situation in the foreseeable future? (Israel Democracy Institute, July 30-August 4, 2024, October 28-November 3, 2024, November 30 - December 3, 2025, April 26-30, 2026)

 20222023202420252026
Optimistic43%
40%
48%46%39%

*Previously: How do you feel about the future of national security?

In your opinion, what will best ensure Israel’s future security in the short term? (Israel Democracy Institute, April 26-30, 2026)


Israeli JewsIsraeli ArabsGeneral Public
Strengthening Israel’s military power32%9%28%
Reaching political agreements with states in the region25%57%31%
Both equally40%29%38%
DK/NA3%5%3%

In your opinion, what will best ensure Israel’s future security in the long term? (Israel Democracy Institute, April 26-30, 2026)


Israeli JewsIsraeli ArabsGeneral Public
Strengthening Israel’s military power21%8%19%
Reaching political agreements with states in the region32%30%32%
Both equally44%55%45%
DK/NA3%7%4%

Recently, the former president of the Supreme Court Aharon Barak said that Israel is no longer a liberal democracy. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? (Israel Democracy Institute, January 25-29, 2026)


Israeli JewsIsraeli ArabsGeneral Public
Strongly agree17%32%19%
Somewhat agree31%28%30%
Somewhat disagree19%22%20%
Strongly disagree30%3%26%
DK3%15%5%

To what extent do you trust each of the following bodies? (INSS, December 12–16, 2024)

A great deal/Quite a lotArabsJewsTotal
IDF

34%

85%75%
The government9%25%22%
The Intelligence Corps31%68%61%
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu8%33%28%

Trust in Israeli Institutions ... (Israel Democracy Index 2012 (May 2013, October 2024)

 
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2012
20232024
Army/IDF
91.8
90.5
87.3
86.8
91.6
91.0
7577
Supreme Court
83.6
76.3
77.0
68.5
81.7
86.7
3940
Police
85.0
80.3
67.3
65.3
77.9
82.2
3237
Knesset
79.9
57.5
65.4
67.0
79.0
78.8
2316
Government
80.0
72.9
60.4
66.4
76.6
79.3
2725
Media/Press
71.8
75.3
72.0
68.5
74.5
72.4
2426
Political Parties
65.7
49.2
53.1
59.5
68.3
64.6
1311

In general, how would you describe your feeling regarding Israel’s security situation? (JPPI, July 2024)

 ArabsJewsTotal
Concerned

90%

84%86%
Not concerned

10%

14%14%

In general, how would you describe your feeling regarding Israel’s economic situation? (JPPI, July 2024)

 ArabsJewsTotal
Concerned

92%

68%73%
Not concerned

5%

31%27%

Against the backdrop of the continuing war and the need for unity among Israelis, is it correct or not correct to advance parts of the judicial reform at the current time? (Israel Democracy Institute, May 26-28, 2024)

 JewsArabsTotal
Certain or think it is correct25%
27%
25%
Certain or think it is not correct66%58%65%
DK9%15%10%

Expected effect of the partial advancement of the judicial reform on the civil protests against the government? (Israel Democracy Institute, May 26-28, 2024)

 JewsArabsTotal

Certain or think it will weaken them

7%
27%
13%
Certain or think it will strengthen them71%38%65%

Will have no effect

11%18%9%
DK12%18%13%

How would you define Israel’s situation today in terms of its international standing? (Israel Democracy Institute, February 28-March 4, 2024)

 Israeli JewsIsraeli ArabsTotal
Not good44%63%47%
So-so33%17%31%
Good22%17%21%

Think that the State of Israel is successfully ensuring the security of its citizens (Israel Democracy Institute, November 2022,  December 2023, January 28–30, 2024)

 201920202021202220232024
Successful64%76%57%40%
38%
39%

How would you define Israel’s situation today in terms of its international standing? (Israel Democracy Institute, January 28–30, 2024)

 Israeli JewsIsraeli ArabsTotal
Not good44%63%47%
So-so33%17%31%
Good22%17%21%

Some Western world leaders, including US President Biden and French President Macron, have expressed concern over the Judicial Reform being promoted by the Israeli government. To what extent do Israel’s future relations with its Western partners affect your support of or opposition to the reform? (Mitvim Foreign Policy Index, July 2023)

 Total
 2023

To a great/very great extent

45%

To a small extent, barely, or not at all

40%
DK15%

Do you support or oppose protest activities against the judicial reforms being advanced by the government? (total sample; %) (Israel Democracy Index, August 2023)

 2023
Support

52%

Oppose38%
DK10%

Agree that, in order to bridge divisions between the political camps, discussions should be held over legislative proposals and attempts made to reach compromises (total sample; %) (Israel Democracy Index, August 2023)

 November 2022January 2023February 2023March 2023April 2023August 2023
Agree67%64%71%70%
70%
73%

The Supreme Court will soon discuss a petition demanding that the minister of justice be required to convene the Judicial Selection Committee. If the Court instructs the minister to convene the Committee, what should the minister of justice do? (total sample; %) (total sample; %) (Israel Democracy Index, August 2023)

 2023
Act in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling

54%

Continue to refuse to convene the committee21%
DK23%

How do you think the Supreme Court should rule on the petition to strike down the law restricting the use of the reasonableness doctrine? (total sample; %) (Israel Democracy Index, August 2023)

 2023
The court should accept the petition because the legislative process in the Knesset was faulty or incomplete

9%

The court should accept the petition and revoke the law, because restricting the use of the reasonableness doctrine harms the democratic character of the state.25%
The court should reject the petition and leave the law as it is because restricting the use of the reasonableness doctrine does not harm the democratic character of the state.14%
This is a Basic Law, and the Court is not empowered to discuss basic laws passed by the Knesset.23%
DK29%

In all countries, there are differences or conflicts between different social groups. In your opinion, are the conflicts very strong, strong, not very strong or are there no conflicts at all between…?  [% strong conflicts]  (Pew, March 15-April 24, 2023)

 2022

2023

People who support different political parties83%

57%

People who are religious and people who are not religious 

61%

Arab Israelis and Jewish Israelis 

71%

 People on the political left and people on the political right 

75%

 

How much do you trust the following institutions? (INSS, National Security Index 2018-19)

 

Israeli Jews

IDF

88%

Mossad

88%

Israel Security Agency (GSS)

80%

Police

60%

Based on your understanding of "Zionism," how would you characterize the State of Israel today? (Israel Democracy Index 2012 (May 2013)

 JewsArabsTotal
Very Zionist
11.7
33.5
15.5
Quite Zionist
44.6
35.1
43.0
Not so Zionist
33.5
11.5
29.7
Not at all Zionist
7.7
7.3
7.6
DN/NA
2.5
12.6
4.2

Is the State of Israel today democratic in the right measure, too democratic, or not democratic enough? (Israel Democracy Index 2012 (May 2013)

 
2003
2004
2005
2006
2009
2010
2011
2012
Much too democratic
4.9
9.6
8.1
4.6
7.2
6.8
7.6
8.0
Too democratic
15.5
16.2
15.3
12.5
18.7
20.3
16.8
16.0
Democratic in the right measure
46.2
29.7
39.4
36.5
32.8
34.0
34.1
42.4
Not democratic enough
25.5
34.2
29.0
34.1
27.3
29.0
27.5
26.6
Definitely not democratic enough
7.3
8.7
7.2
11.5
10.4
6.6
11.8
4.7
DN/NA
0.6
1.6
1.0
0.8
3.6
3.2
2.2
2.3

Israel is defined as both a Jewish and Democratic state. Which is more important to you? (Israel Democracy Index 2012 (May 2013)

 
2010
2011
2012
Jewish
32.4
29.5
34.3
Democratic
17.0
22.9
21.8
Equally Important
48.1
46.1
41.9
Neither Important
1.7
1.0
0.5
DN/NA
0.8
0.5
1.5

Do you agree or disagree that Arab Israelis are discriminated against as compared with Jewish citizens? (Israel Democracy Index 2012 (May 2013)

 
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2011
2012
Disagree totally
27.4
23.8
21.9
27.4
20.8
27.3
36.0
29.8
30.9
Disagree somewhat
17.1
10.8
21.7
18.1
22.4
19.7
20.3
17.2
21.2
Agree somewhat
30.2
30.6
26.0
25.0
24.9
24.4
17.7
27.0
25.1
Agree strongly
24.9
32.3
29.2
28.3
27.9
25.6
22.6
22.7
19.5
DN/NA
0.4
2.5
1.2
1.2
4.0
3.0
3.4
3.3
3.3

Speakers should be prohibited from harshly criticizing the State of Israel in public ...(Israel Democracy Index 2012 (May 2013)

 
2007
2008
2009
2011
2012
Disagree totally
19.5
15.8
23.0
22.4
32.4
Disagree somewhat
24.4
24.7
18.0
23.6
15.1
Agree somewhat
21.8
21.5
19.3
23.3
19.8
Agree strongly
12.0
12.4
35.4
27.5
28.8
DN/NA
3.8
5.8
4.3
3.2
3.9

It is never acceptable, under any circumstances, to employ violence for political ends ... (Israel Democracy Index 2012 (May 2013)

 
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2012
Disagree totally
7.3
12.6
9.5
13.2
18.1
7.5
Disagree somewhat
10.3
8.5
13.0
12.5
12.3
3.8
Agree somewhat
25.1
17.5
22.0
14.2
14.8
10.9
Agree strongly
56.7
63.3
49.4
56.8
53.6
76.6
DN/NA
0.6
1.1
3.1
3.3
1.2
1.2