Israeli Public Trust in Trump’s Security Priorities Hits New Low Amid US-Israel Tensions

A recent June survey by the Israeli Democracy Institute and the Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research reveals a sharp decline in Israeli public trust that US President Donald Trump prioritizes Israel’s security. Only 28% of respondents believe security is a central concern for Trump, down from 44% in May. This drop occurred across both Jewish and Arab populations, with trust among Arabs falling from 59% to 36%, and among Jews from 41% to 26%.

The survey also examined perceptions of the US-Israel relationship amid recent disagreements. A majority of Israelis (53%) view the tensions as a temporary crisis unlikely to damage bilateral ties. However, opinions diverge by ethnicity: 54% of Jews see it as temporary, while 46% of Arabs consider it a long-term negative turning point.

Regarding domestic issues, nearly half of Israelis (47%) believe law enforcement is too lenient toward ultra-Orthodox protesters opposing military conscription exemptions, with only 26.5% seeing enforcement as too harsh. Among Jews, 44% say enforcement is too soft, compared to 30% who say it is too harsh; among Arabs, 59% view it as too lenient. Religious affiliation also influences views on enforcement severity.

On security policy, 72% of Israelis support maintaining a security zone in southern Lebanon even if it causes friction with the US. Support is especially strong among Jews (80%) and right-wing voters (89.5%), while 57.5% of Arabs oppose the zone.

When asked about Israel’s strategic situation compared to before the recent "Roaring Lion" military operation, 38% believe it has improved, with right-wing Israelis most optimistic.

Regarding political leadership, 47% of the public gave the ultra-Orthodox political leadership positive marks for advancing their community’s interests, though nearly half of ultra-Orthodox respondents rated their leadership negatively.

Finally, with elections approaching, about half of Israelis oppose advancing major constitutional reforms now, including 63% of Arabs and 47.5% of Jews.