Poll: 78% of Israelis Fear Post-Election Division, Internal Strife Biggest Threat

A new report from the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) warns that internal polarization poses the most significant threat to Israel's future, with 78% of Israelis expressing concern about societal cohesion ahead of elections. The report highlights that 55% of Israelis view internal divisions as the greatest challenge to the state's existence, surpassing fears of Iran's nuclear program (23%) or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (18%). Six in ten Israelis believe there is a real danger of bloodshed and civil war, with the primary fear being mutual delegitimization of election results.

The JPPI report, assessing Israel's situation in 2026, also points to a significant rise in the secular-religious divide, particularly concerning draft exemptions and draft dodger protests. JPPI President Prof. Yedidya Stern stated, "Israel is stronger today, but military strength is not an end in itself. The real challenge is to translate achievements into stable arrangements, international alliances, and internal resilience that will last over time. Our test now is not only against our enemies, but what reality we will build at home."

Strategically, while the IDF has inflicted heavy blows on Hamas and Hezbollah and damaged Iran's nuclear program, these gains have not been solidified into binding strategic agreements. Iran still possesses a significant amount of 60% enriched uranium without reliable oversight, and the direct missile threat remains. The report also notes a concerning trend of "limited visibility" among Jews abroad, with a majority in Europe and nearly half in the US hiding Jewish symbols or avoiding community events due to rising antisemitism.

Internationally, antisemitism is described as a systematic strategic threat, with a record number of physical attacks in the US and France. The report also identifies a ""Israeli-ization"" of the diaspora and a surge in Israelis living abroad, now estimated at 755,000, who contribute to local Jewish communities but represent a loss of vital skilled personnel for Israel. The rift between Israel and world Jewry is widening, with fewer diaspora Jews viewing Israel as a "moral exemplar."