New Survey Reveals Growing Israeli Concerns Over State's Future

A recent "Maariv" newspaper poll indicates a significant portion of Israelis, over a quarter, harbor concerns about the very existence of the state, with a notable decline in feelings of belonging among Arab citizens. While a majority of Israelis (62%) still believe the country is a good place to live, this figure has seen a slight decrease from previous years. The survey, conducted by Lazar Research in collaboration with Panel4ALL, involved 601 respondents aged 18 and above.

Among Jewish respondents, 66% feel it is good to live in Israel, a drop from 71% last year. However, the decline is more pronounced among Arab respondents, with only 33% agreeing it's a good place to live, down from 46% a year ago. Conversely, 54% of Arab respondents stated Israel is not a good place to live, compared to 32% of Jewish respondents.

Regarding national pride, 79% of all Israelis expressed pride in being Israeli, though this also showed a decrease from previous surveys. The poll revealed a stark difference in outlook between supporters of the ruling coalition, who tend to be more optimistic, and opposition supporters, who are more pessimistic.

Alarmingly, 27% of Israelis fear the state's existence is in real danger, with an additional 11% unsure. This uncertainty is particularly high among Arab respondents, with 30% indicating they do not know if Israel's existence is a given fact. Dr. Menachem Lazar, head of Lazar Research, highlighted these findings as a "warning bell," particularly concerning the significant drop in pride and positive living sentiment among Arab citizens, who constitute about 22% of Israel's population.

The survey, conducted between September 9-10, 2026, has a maximum sampling error of 4%. The findings come ahead of the Jewish New Year holiday.