Over One in Four Israeli Women Report Domestic Violence, Women's Lobby Survey Finds

The Israel Women's Lobby released findings from the "Big Women's Survey 2026" on Tuesday, revealing alarming levels of gender-based violence in Israel. According to the survey, 27% of women reported experiencing violent behavior from a partner or close family member, representing an estimated 900,000 women nationwide. The survey highlights that 81% of women reject the notion that domestic violence is a private matter to be resolved within the family.

The survey further details that 10% of women reported physical harm or injury caused by a partner or family member, equating to approximately 350,000 women. Additionally, 12% reported being subjected to threats or physical force for sexual purposes, about 400,000 women. Economic control was reported by 12%, while 17% experienced obsessive jealousy, stalking, or ongoing attempts at control.

Regarding responsibility for preventing violence against women, 61% of respondents disagreed with the claim that the police cannot prevent or reduce domestic homicides, assigning significant responsibility to law enforcement for early intervention and enforcement of protection orders. One-third of women identified the Israel Police as the primary responsible body, followed by the Ministry of Welfare at 25%, and the Israeli government at 18%.

The survey, conducted by Geocartography Institute among 1,003 women, aimed to assess women's sense of security and personal experiences beyond high-profile cases. Tomer Moran, head of research at the Women's Lobby, expressed deep concern over the findings, emphasizing that femicide is just the tip of the iceberg, with violence often beginning with control, threats, jealousy, stalking, and financial abuse. Moran criticized the police and government for shifting responsibility onto citizens and treating domestic violence as a private issue, stating that women see these institutions as primarily responsible for protection and prevention.

The Women's Lobby calls for urgent action from authorities to fulfill their roles in safeguarding women and preventing violence before it escalates to fatal outcomes.