Israeli Voice Index

The Israeli Voice Index is a monthly public opinion survey conducted by the Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute. The Index focuses on pressing public agenda issues.

The questionnaire consists of questions on current topics, in addition to occasionally recurring questions, assisting in formulating a cumulative understanding of public opinion trends in Israel.

Each survey includes an analysis that is distributed to decision makers, the media and the general public.   

Publications Regarding Israeli Voice Index

Articles

Israeli Voice Index

Israelis Split on Motivations for Holding the Philadelphi Corridor

Israelis are divided on the question of the main reasons for Netanyahu's demand that Israel continues to control the Philadelphi Corridor. While over half of the Jewish respondents (58.5%) think this decision is based on military and strategic considerations, 66.5% of Arab-Israeli respondents thing it is due to political reasons. 

Israeli Voice Index

Across Political Orientations; Jewish and Arab Israelis Have Negative Feelings Toward the Government

Across the Left, Right and Center, rates of Jewish Israelis who say the feel "anger," "disappointment" or "frustration" are considerably higher than those expressing satisfaction, pride, or trust. A large majority of Israelis (70%) support the establishment of an inquiry into the events of Oct. 7th, but do not agree on the timing of such an inquiry. 

Israeli Voice Index

Most Israelis Support Deal to Release All Hostages and End the War in Gaza; Israelis Divided on How to Handle the Northern Front

Across the total sample, 56% of Israelis support a deal to release all the hostages and end the war in Gaza; 29.5% support a deal to release some hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire; 14.5% don't know.

Israeli Voice Index

Netanyahu Government Gets Low Grades Across Various Wartime Issues

Across the issues of US-relations, the war in Gaza, evacuees from the south and the north, fighting Hezbollah, and public diplomacy efforts abroad—both Jewish and Arab Israelis give the government low grades.

Israeli Voice Index

A Majority of Jewish Israelis See a Hostage Deal as a Higher National Priority Than Military Action in Rafah

The majority of the Jewish public (56%) think that securing a deal for the release of the hostages is the highest priority; a higher share of Jewish respondents think Trump would be better for Israel as US president; most Israelis think that celebrations of Israel's 76th Independence Day should be more restrained and less prominent this year.

Special Survey

Israelis say the time has come for those responsible for October 7 to step down

After more than six months of war, we found that among both Jewish (58%) and Arab Israelis (81%) there is widespread agreement that now that the majority of Israeli forces have left the Gaza Strip, the time has come for those who were responsible for the failure of October 7 to resign from their positions.

Israeli Voice Index

Across the Political Spectrum, Only a Minority of Israelis Think the Government will Survive to the End of its Term

Slightly more than half of Jewish respondents think that the government is doing all it can to bring the hostages home; only a minority of Arabs concur. Only a minority of Israelis think the government will complete its four-year term and a majority of Israelis think that Hamas has succeeded in refocusing international attention on the Palestinian problem.

Special Survey

Majority of Israelis give low ratings to Prime Minister Netanyahu; high ratings to IDF Chief of Staff

The majority of Israelis gave Prime Minister Netanyahu low ratings (57%), while IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi topped the rankings of positive performance (48%). More than two-thirds of Israelis think we are on the verge of an all-out-war with Hezbollah – 69%.

Israeli Voice Index

Large Majority of Jewish Israelis Want Changes to the Conscription Law

Most Israelis would like to see the exemption given to the Haredi community changed; when asked whether the Israel can continue relying on the US's support, public opinion was divided, with an inclination toward continued reliance; around half of Israelis think Israel's standing in the international arena is not good.

Special Survey

Most Israelis: an "Absolute Victory" to the War is Unlikely

Most Israelis think Palestinian terrorism will remain the same or increase if a Palestinian state were declared. A vast majority (81%) of Israelis think the likelihood of reform in the Palestinian Authority is low, while a majority of Israelis think absolute victory in Gaza is unlikely.

Israeli Voice Index

A Large Majority of Israelis Want Early Elections

59% of Jewish Israelis oppose a deal that would lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state with guarantees from the US and peace agreements with Arab states such as Saudi Arabia; when asked to choose, 51% of Israelis said they think the main goal of the war should be bringing the hostages home and 36% think it should be toppling Hamas; half of Israelis think the ICJ ruling, issuing temporary measures, to be harsh.

Special Survey

Most Israelis Oppose a Hostage Deal in Exchange for a Halt in Fighting and Releasing all Palestinian Prisoners

Most Jewish Israelis expect the war to continue for months, while a majority of Jewish respondents oppose a deal for the release of the hostages in return for the release of all Palestinian prisoners and a cessation of the fighting in Gaza. Meanwhile, over 60% of Israelis claim that their personal lives have returned to normal. 

Israeli Voice Index

Most Israelis Oppose Meeting US Demands to Shift to New Phase of War

About two-thirds (66%) of Israelis say they do not think Israel should agree to US demands to shift to a phase of the war with a reduced heavy bombing in populous areas. 75% of Jewish Israelis oppose meeting the demands, compared to only 21% of Arab Israelis.

Special Survey

Even on the Right, Israelis Want Elections Immediately After the War

Two thirds of Israelis do not think that the government currently has a clear plan of action for the next day and the majority, even on the right, believe elections should be held as soon as the war ends. Even so, no significant movement is currently indicated between the political blocs. 

Israeli Voice Index

Israelis Sharply Divided on the Question of a Two-State Solution in Return for US Assistance

Among Jewish Israelis, 75% on the Left support making progress toward a two-state solution to the conflict in return for American assistance, compared to 45% in the Center and only 21% on the Right.

Israeli Voice Index

Overwhelming Majority of Jewish and Arab Israelis: The Release of all Hostages is a Goal of Importance

IDI's fifth War in Gaza survey finds that among Jewish Israelis, toppling Hamas and releasing the hostages are pivotal war-goals. The majority of respondents do not think that the government currently has a clear action for the day after the fighting ends, and there is rising support (56%) for an amendment to the Nation-State Law, to safeguard equality for non-Jewish citizens. 

Israeli Voice Index

Most Israelis Prefer to Wait Until After the War to Designate Responsibility

The October 2023 edition of the Israeli Voice Index shows that a significant majority of Jewish Israelis trust the heads of the IDF over PM Netanyahu. If elections were to be held today, a majority of Israelis (55%) would vote for the same bloc they voted for in the last elections.

Israeli Voice Index

30 years after the Oslo Accords: A large share of Israelis think it was wrong for Israel to enter the process

As we mark the 30th anniversary of the Oslo Accords this month, a larger share of Jewish respondents think it was incorrect to enter into that process, while the percentage of respondents who selected "don't know" was exceptionally large. 

Israeli Voice Index

Many Israelis believe a deal with Saudi Arabia would strengthen PM Netanyahu politically

As it is widely known that negotiations have been underway between Israel and Saudi Arabia under the auspices of the United States, we asked two questions regarding the expected impact of the negotiations and a possible agreement on domestic matters.

Israeli Voice Index

Israelis are deeply divided on the upcoming Supreme Court hearings

41.5% of coalition voters and 6% of opposition voters said that the Court lacks the authority to perform judicial review over Basic Laws passed by Knesset. 73% of Israelis agree that in order to bridge the divisions between the political camps, attempts should be made to reach a compromise. 

Israeli Voice Index

Stabilizing the Economy and Combatting COVID by Imposing Restrictions

After more than 100 days in office – Israelis want the new government to prioritize stabilizing the economy and combatting COVID by imposing restrictions on the unvaccinated

Israeli Voice Index

Israelis Hope for More Unity and Closing Socioeconomic Gaps

If a new government is formed Israelis think that strengthening unity and closing socioeconomic gaps are the highest priority

Special Survey

The Views of Israeli Voters

What are the views of Israelis on a range of subjects, and how do these views relate to their decision on who to vote for in the upcoming elections?

Israeli Voice Index

Majority of Israelis: Netanyahu’s Efforts to Forge Ties with Arab Public Insincere

A large majority of Israelis think Netanyahu’s efforts to forge ties with Arab Israelis are insincere - 25% of Arab Israelis think they should nevertheless cooperate.

Press Release

The Israeli Voice Index – August 2020

As Israelis approach the Jewish new year, they are skeptical about the country's collective mood but personally optimistic about the future. The Israeli public is also pleased about the expected treaty with the UAE and skeptical about the longevity of the government.

Israeli Voice Index

Israelis Pessimistic on the Country's Outlook but Hopeful on Peace with UAE

With the Jewish New Year approaching, Israelis are pessimistic on the country's outlook but hopeful on peace with UAE; 41% of Israelis think the upcoming year will be worse than the last; 68% of Israelis think that Israel will be heading to elections when the budget compromise between Likud and Blue and White expires in December.