Poll: 78% of Jewish Israelis Believe IDF Tries to Avoid Harming Civilians, Majority of Arabs Disagree
A new survey by the Israel Democracy Institute reveals deep divides between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel on key issues, including the war in Gaza, settler violence, and trust in military reporting.
The July 2025 Israeli Voice Index found that 78% of Jewish Israelis believe the military is making substantial efforts to avoid unnecessary suffering in Gaza. In contrast, 66.5% of Arab Israelis say Israel could reduce Palestinian suffering but chooses not to. Similarly, most Jews trust the IDF’s reports on Palestinian civilian casualties (70%) and soldier suicides (58.5%), while majorities of Arab Israelis express skepticism.
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The public is also split on how enforcement agencies respond to settler violence. Among Jews, 39% say authorities are too lenient with settlers attacking Palestinians, while 25% say enforcement is too harsh. Among Arab Israelis, 55% view the response as too lenient.
On Israel’s military response to attacks on the Druze in Syria, 52.5% of Jewish respondents and 44% of Druze Israelis said the scale was appropriate. Most Arab respondents disagreed or were uncertain.
The survey also found that rising antisemitism abroad is affecting travel decisions: 38% of Israelis said it influenced their choice of destination, and 18% said they’ve canceled plans entirely.
Optimism about Israel’s future has declined since June. Just 40% of respondents expressed optimism about national security, 37% about democracy, and 28% about the economy. Social cohesion remains a concern for both communities, with only 23% overall expressing optimism.
