Despite deep opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza strategy, polling shows a broad Israeli consensus on maintaining long-term control over Palestinian territories.
At a Glance
- Cabinet approved plans for expanded military operations in Gaza City on August 8, 2025
- Polls show over 70% of Israelis support a hostage deal and ending the war quickly
- Majority of Jewish Israelis oppose a two-state solution and back permanent occupation
- Ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions remain a major source of public anger
- Netanyahu’s coalition remains below majority support in most current polls
Public Dissent, Policy Convergence
In early August, Israel’s cabinet moved to intensify operations in Gaza City, a decision widely interpreted as paving the way for long-term occupation. While Netanyahu has framed this escalation as necessary to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, only 28 percent of Israelis support the plan. Surveys indicate a clear majority favor an immediate hostage deal, with over 70 percent backing a full cease-fire to facilitate releases.
The rift between the public and government appears stark on immediate war policy, yet polling suggests much smaller gaps on underlying issues. Even many in the anti-Netanyahu camp, including opposition leaders, share the prime minister’s rejection of a Palestinian state. In July 2025, Tel Aviv University’s Peace Index found that only one-third of Israelis—and less than a quarter of Jewish Israelis—support establishing a Palestinian state. Prominent opposition figures, from centrist Yair Lapid to former generals Benny Gantz and Naftali Bennett, rarely advocate for two-state talks and often match Netanyahu’s skepticism.
Political Pressure and Coalition Instability
Netanyahu’s coalition, already weakened by the July departure of two ultra-Orthodox parties, governs with a minority. If the coalition collapses, early elections could be called in 2026, a year ahead of schedule. Public dissatisfaction stems from multiple fronts: failure to secure hostages, exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox men, lack of accountability for security lapses before the October 7 attacks, and judicial overhaul measures viewed as eroding democracy.
Polling by the Israel Democracy Institute and Agam Labs shows consistent majority support for ending the war in exchange for hostages. A large majority also wants an independent inquiry into the October 7 events, but no such commission has been established. On the conscription issue, surveys find roughly three-quarters of Jewish Israelis oppose government proposals seen as entrenching draft exemptions.
Despite this, opposition parties generally avoid challenging the government on long-standing policies toward Palestinians. Their criticisms focus on execution—such as the absence of a clear postwar plan for Gaza—rather than on fundamental change to the occupation framework.
Mainstream Endorsement of Hardline Measures
Poll data suggests strong public support for hardline measures against Palestinians in Gaza. In July 2025, the Peace Index recorded that 74 percent of Jewish Israelis support “voluntary emigration” of Gazans, and a majority supports forced evacuation. A May 2025 poll cited by researcher Tamir Sorek found 82 percent support for expulsion, while Israel Democracy Institute surveys indicate that most Jewish Israelis are not concerned about reports of famine in Gaza, with nearly half believing such claims are fabricated.
These attitudes extend to settlement and annexation policies: 40 percent of Jewish Israelis now favor annexing occupied territories, and 46 percent support building settlements in Gaza. While these figures do not represent an absolute majority, they reflect a sizable base for expansionist policies.
The Limits of Change
The prevailing alignment between government and public opinion on Palestinian policy predates the current war. By 2022, few Israeli parties openly discussed ending the occupation, and even large pro-democracy protests in 2023 focused on domestic judicial reforms rather than the status of millions of disenfranchised Palestinians. Younger Jewish Israelis, according to 2023 surveys, overwhelmingly believed Israel could remain democratic while controlling territories where Palestinians lack voting rights.
If Netanyahu loses the next election, many expect a symbolic reset in Israeli politics. Yet without a shift in public attitudes toward Palestinian self-determination, analysts anticipate continuity in core policies: military control over Palestinian territories, limited humanitarian engagement, and skepticism toward diplomatic solutions. This suggests that leadership change alone is unlikely to end the cycle of occupation and conflict that has shaped Israeli policy for decades.
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