76% of Jewish Israelis Feel Safer Home Than Abroad, Only 32% of Arab Israelis Agree
A clear majority of Jewish Israelis believe Israel is safer for Jews than living abroad, even as Arab Israelis remain split on where they feel most secure, according to the December 2025 Israeli Voice Index released by the Israel Democracy Institute.
The survey found that 76% of Jewish Israelis say Israel is safer for Jews than other countries, continuing a steady rise from 68% in May 2024 and 71.5% in November 2024. Among Arab Israelis, views were far more divided: 32% said Israel is safer for Arabs, 35% said life abroad is safer, and 29% saw no difference. The polling took place roughly two weeks after a deadly attack on a Jewish community site in Sydney, Australia.
Those perceptions translate into strong expectations of Israeli government involvement abroad. Large majorities of Jewish respondents said Israel should press foreign governments to ensure the safety of Jewish communities, send official emissaries, and take part directly in security planning for Jewish events. Half also supported financial assistance for Jewish communities overseas, the highest level of backing recorded for that option.
At the same time, public backing for a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks has weakened. While 55% of Israelis still favor a state-appointed commission, support has dropped sharply since mid-2024. Backing for a government-appointed investigative body has risen to 22%, driven mainly by shifts among right-wing Jewish respondents. Support for a state commission on the Left and Center remains overwhelming, while Likud voters are evenly divided between the two models.
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The survey also examined public attitudes toward the so-called Qatargate affair. A majority of Israelis said they believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of connections between close advisers and Qatar, despite his denials. Among Jewish respondents, opinion split along political lines, while Arab respondents were far more likely to believe the prime minister knew of the links.
On coalition politics, Jewish Israelis showed deep divisions over cooperation with the Arab Ra’am Party. Support was strongest among voters for center and center-left parties, while voters for parties currently in the governing coalition largely opposed any reliance on Ra’am.
Looking ahead, Israelis expressed far greater confidence in their personal prospects than in the country’s outlook. About three-quarters said 2026 would be a good year for them personally, compared with half who felt optimistic about the state’s future.
The survey also found declining preference for political parties with equal representation of women, a shift researchers said may reflect changing public priorities or the different context in which the question was asked.
The poll was conducted between December 28, 2025, and January 1, 2026, among a representative sample of Israeli adults.
Looking ahead, Israelis expressed far greater confidence in their personal prospects than in the country’s outlook. About three-quarters said 2026 would be a good year for them personally, compared with half who felt optimistic about the state’s future.
The survey also found declining preference for political parties with equal representation of women, a shift researchers said may reflect changing public priorities or the different context in which the question was asked.
The poll was conducted between December 28, 2025, and January 1, 2026, among a representative sample of Israeli adults.
