Most Israelis oppose concluding their nation’s conflict with Iran, citing concerns that peace under present circumstances would undermine national security objectives, according to new polling data from the Israel Democracy Institute released May 5, 2026.
The research revealed that 59% of survey participants considered terminating the war as having minimal or no alignment with Israel’s security requirements. The demographic breakdown showed approximately two-thirds of Jewish participants shared this perspective, while nearly half of Arab participants held the contrasting viewpoint.
Additionally, 62% of those surveyed anticipated a high probability of renewed large-scale hostilities with Iran, while only 30% viewed such prospects as unlikely.
The data indicates a significant erosion in public morale. Confidence regarding Israel’s national defense dropped from 47% in March to 39% in April, marking some of the poorest ratings documented in recent polling. Faith in social unity similarly decreased from 30% to 22.5%. However, perspectives on democratic institutions and economic prospects showed no significant change.
The study also evaluated public sentiment about Israel’s general direction. Among all participants, 44.5% believed the nation had achieved more victories than setbacks, representing a decrease from 48% the previous year and an 18.5 percentage point drop since 2020.
Regarding regional relations, participants showed pessimism about Lebanon. Approximately three-quarters considered the possibility of establishing a lasting diplomatic-security framework with Lebanon’s government, including Hezbollah’s disarmament, as unlikely or impossible.
Views on foreign influence over Israeli policy also evolved. A majority of 51% believed the US administration wielded more control over Israel’s defense choices than Israel’s own government, increasing from 44% in October 2025, while those crediting greater influence to Israel’s leadership fell to 18%.
International relations concerns were prominent, with 72% of participants describing diminishing American public support as moderately or highly troubling.
Regarding long-range security approaches, most participants emphasized equal importance of military capability and diplomatic solutions. For immediate priorities, support for emphasizing military force decreased to 28.5%, while backing for diplomatic initiatives increased to 30.5%.
The poll also covered domestic matters. A plurality believed security agencies handled settler violence against Palestinians with excessive leniency, a sentiment that grew among Jewish participants to 46%.
The research was carried out April 26-30, 2026 by the Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research, surveying 601 Jewish and 150 Arab participants representing Israel’s adult population aged 18 and older.
