Israeli Society Survey Warns of Polarization, Civil-War Fears and Low Trust in Cohesion

The Jewish People Policy Institute published its annual report on the state of Israeli society on Sunday morning, and it paints a troubling picture of public sentiment. The full findings are due to be presented later today at the institute’s annual conference in Jerusalem.

According to the report, 55% of the public see internal polarization as the country’s most dangerous threat, far ahead of an Iranian nuclear bomb, which was chosen by 23%. Six in 10 Israelis also believe there is a real risk of physical violence and bloodshed inside the country, effectively signaling concern about civil war.

The study says that about half of secular Israelis are not convinced Israel is the right and safest place for future generations. It also finds wide public backing, 80%, for sharing the burden of service, while 79% of ultra-Orthodox respondents oppose military conscription, even in specially designed frameworks. In the social closeness index, the ultra-Orthodox community received the lowest score of all groups.

Overall optimism rose slightly to 7.13, but the report highlights a deep ideological divide, with the right scoring 9.05 on hope and the left falling to a record low of 3.67. The shift to a regional war and changes in senior IDF leadership lifted confidence in the top command to 82%, but Israelis remain skeptical about Gaza, expecting Hamas to stay in power in some form and expressing disappointment that the “Trump plan” did not lead to the group’s disarmament despite the ceasefire and the return of the hostages. The war has also pushed public sentiment further to the right, especially among young people.