Introduction
The Israeli Society Barometer project, initiated by the Center for Jewish Impact measures the pulse of Israeli society over time and on topical issues. Based on a series of surveys conducted throughout the year, by the Center for Jewish Impact through the Geocartography Knowledge Group, this initiative provides insights into Israeli public opinion and societal trends to inform embassies, international organizations, and partners of the Center for Jewish Impact. The Barometer project seeks to amplify understanding of Israeli society's current perspectives and concerns through a combination of quantitative data and qualitative insights.
June – July 2024 Insights
The first installment of the Israeli Society Barometer Project covers the pulse of Israelis in June and July of 2024. The quantitative aspect was conducted in mid-June, surveying online a representative sample of 500 Israeli respondents over 18, from various sectors, including Jews and Arabs, respective to their proportion in Israel. Planned to be a long-term project, to assess and document the changing dynamics within Israeli society, the survey included 5 questions that will be repeated over time, as 4-5 surveys will be conducted throughout the year, offering a longitudinal analysis, and 5 questions that are topical reflecting opinions on hot issues affecting society.
The second phase of the project, conducted between mid to late July, after quantitative insights were processed, included qualitative discussions with Israeli society stakeholders. These included members of the Center for Jewish Impact's senior Advisory Board, the Center for Jewish Impact Fellows, and Friends of the Center for Jewish Impact, each bringing their unique perspectives, and representing different opinions on the matters discussed. The meetings were recorded, and insights were collected to offer readers of this report an added value that goes beyond the initial quantitative findings.
Key Findings
71% of the public disagree with the statement that in the coming months, living in Israel will be better. Men and religious individuals are more optimistic about the situation, while about a third of secular individuals do not agree at all that it will get better.
Most of the public believes that there has been a change in the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora in recent months, with two competing trends: 47% of the public believe that Israel and the Diaspora have grown apart in recent months, while 35% believe they have grown closer.
Our study found that 29% of the public are considering relocation. This finding is conservative compared to other more alarming results from other surveys on this issue1,3,4. Yet, our study also found that there is a gap between considering relocation and acting upon it. Only 1% of respondents are in the process of relocating abroad and 8% have considered relocating but changed their mind in the past few months.
27% of the public rate their personal security as bad to very bad, with only 31% believing it is good to very good. Women, secular individuals, and those in the Arab sector perceive their personal security as less good.
69% of the public perceive global antisemitism as posing an equal threat to Israel as military threats. In the Jewish sector, particularly among secular and traditional individuals, global antisemitism is perceived as a greater threat.
84% of the public are dissatisfied with Israel's current diplomatic status on the international stage. Satisfaction is particularly low among secular individuals.
47% of the public report being personally affected or knowing someone personally affected by the events of October 7th or the Swords of Iron war. While the figure is slightly higher among residents of the southern border, it was overall similar across the entire country.
73% of the public believe that expanding the war to Lebanon is necessary, even at the cost of a ground invasion, to restore security to northern residents. This figure is higher among northern Israeli residents. The interpretation of the question is limited since its phrasing did not offer a diplomatic alternative.
55% of the public report being active in efforts to free the hostages, but only 14% feel they are doing a lot for this cause. The rate of those active for the hostages is significantly higher among those aged 55+ and higher in the central region.
59% of the public believe that civil society organizations contributed more significantly to the victims of October 7th and the Swords of Iron war compared to the Israeli government and its institutions. Men and religious individuals are more likely to believe that the Israeli government and its institutions contributed more to the victims.
The survey found a significant divide between the Arab and Jewish Sector respondents on key issues, such as in attitudes toward relocation, personal security, and responses to recent national events, with the former experiencing more negative perceptions towards the current situation.