Israeli Poll Shows Rising Concerns Over Election Integrity and West Bank Intifada

A recent survey by the Israeli Democracy Institute reveals growing public anxiety about election integrity, a sharp increase in expectations of a Palestinian uprising in the West Bank, and a clear preference for primary elections to select Knesset candidates. Conducted in July as part of the "Israeli Voice" index, the poll found that nearly two-thirds of Israelis fear attempts to undermine the electoral process. Specifically, 70% of respondents believe there is a threat to election integrity, with 72% of Jewish Israelis and 58.5% of Arab Israelis expressing concern. Political divisions show that 90.5% of left-wing voters worry about election interference, compared to 76% in the center and 66% on the right.

Security concerns have also intensified, with 72% of the public considering a Palestinian intifada in the West Bank likely in the near future, up from 59% in a November 2025 poll. Among Jewish respondents, about 80% see a high chance of such an uprising, while fewer than 40% of Arab respondents agree. Regarding Iran, the most common stance (37%) is that Israel should avoid initiating military action and respond only if directly attacked. Meanwhile, 20% support urging the US to launch a joint military operation, 18% favor joining a US attack if requested, and 16% advocate for unilateral Israeli strikes without Washington's coordination.

The survey also indicates sustained public support for primary elections, with 56% endorsing primaries as the proper method for choosing Knesset candidate lists. Only 15% prefer a selection committee, and 11% think party leaders should decide. Jewish Israelis strongly back primaries across left, center, and right political camps. On law enforcement against Jewish violence toward Palestinians, 46% of Jewish respondents believe security forces are too lenient. However, opinions vary by political camp: left and center voters mostly see enforcement as too soft, while right-wing views are split between seeing it as too lenient or too harsh.