Lead
A new public opinion survey conducted by the Jerusalem Center for Foreign Affairs and Security (JCFA) indicates that a majority of Israelis favor a firm security approach toward regional threats, according to the Jerusalem Post. The survey, based on a representative sample of Israel's adult population, was conducted in cooperation with Lazar Research and led by Dr. Menachem Lazar. It highlights a public mood that continues to prioritize security concerns in the aftermath of October 7, with broad support for military action against hostile actors and limited confidence in diplomatic arrangements.
Coverage comparison
The Jerusalem Post published two articles based on the survey, each focusing on different aspects of the findings. The first article, by Anna Barsky, emphasized the public's skepticism toward ceasefire agreements and opposition to a Palestinian state. The second article, drawing on a separate report published on Tuesday, focused on support for maintaining defensible borders and security presence in strategic areas. Both articles quoted Dr. Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Foreign Affairs and Security.
Key claims
According to the survey, 56% of Israelis support military action against Hezbollah even if it could lead to direct confrontation with Iran. A minority of respondents opposed such action. The findings suggest widespread acceptance of the view that Hezbollah poses a significant threat requiring decisive steps, even at the risk of regional escalation.
The survey also found that 79% of respondents said they do not trust ceasefires with Hamas and Hezbollah and believe such agreements do not ensure Israel's long-term security. The results point to what the researchers describe as an erosion of public confidence in political and international mechanisms designed to prevent renewed fighting.
On the Palestinian issue, 66% of Israelis said they oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state. That figure has remained largely unchanged since the October 7 attack, according to the report. The data indicate that security considerations continue to dominate public attitudes toward any future political settlement.
The survey also measured attitudes toward US President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, with 57% of Israelis expressing support.
A separate set of findings from the same survey, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, shows that 54% of Israelis believe Israel's borders are not sufficiently protected following the events of October 7, while only 42% believe they are protected. Additionally, 56% of respondents believe that the security failure that enabled the terror attack was the result of a combination of factors, rather than a single isolated failure.
Regarding the Gaza Strip, 64% of Israelis believe that Israel should maintain a permanent military buffer zone along the border, and an additional 11% support this within the framework of a temporary arrangement. Overall, about three-quarters of the public support the continued existence of a security buffer zone in the strip.
On the northern front, 73% of Israelis support the IDF continuing to maintain a presence and a buffer zone in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, while only 14% oppose this.
There is also broad support for a continued Israeli presence on the Syrian border. 60% of Israelis support maintaining Israel's control and security presence in the area, which was occupied after the fall of the Assad regime, whether by maintaining the status quo or expanding the buffer zone for security purposes.
In the West Bank, 57% of Israelis believe that Israel must maintain a security presence, according to the survey. Additionally, 48% of Israelis define the Oslo Accords as a strategic mistake.
The survey indicates broad support for preserving Israel's territorial security components and significant skepticism toward alternatives based on international guarantees or territorial withdrawals. The findings are attributed to lessons drawn from the October 7, 2023, massacre.