Almost a year after the October 7th attack, the survey aimed to assess the public’s views on key issues concerning Israel’s foreign policy and strategy. It focused on immediate topics such as war objectives and potential exit strategies, while also exploring how the war has shaped the public’s strategic mindset on foreign policy issues. This document presents the findings of the survey, divided into five areas: Israel’s foreign relations, Israeli foreign policy, Israel and the Palestinians, Israel-United States relations, and Israel’s relations with regional actors.

This year the survey included, among other things, questions about the preferred outcome of the fighting in Gaza; Israel-US relations and the upcoming presidential elections; Israel’s policy towards Hezbollah in the short term, and towards Iran in the long term; Israel’s global status following the war and the danger of becoming a “pariah state”; the future of strategic relations with Egypt; Israel’s relation with the UN and international sanctions on violent settlers; The connection between the campaign against Iran and the conflict with the Palestinians; Israel’s role in the global struggle between the US, China and Russia; the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; and the future of Israel-Turkey
relations.

Main findings

A sharp drop in the Israeli public’s assessment of Israel’s situation in the world (4.31). This is a significant decrease from the relatively low score given by the public last year (5.03) and the second lowest assessment in the last decade. 70% of respondents describe Israel’s international situation as not good or not very good.

The majority of the public (57%) show great concern over the transformation of the State of Israel into a “pariah state” following the continuation of the war in Gaza and the government’s policies. This, compared to 43% who show little or no concern at all.

The public gives the government’s performance in the field of foreign relations since the beginning of the war a score of 3.84 – which is the lowest score since we started conducting the surveys in 2013. This is a drastic decrease from the relatively low score given by the public last year (4.89).

The public gives the state of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a score of 3.94, which is also the lowest score since we started the survey a decade ago. This is a drastic decrease in the evaluation of the situation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from last year (5.00).

A relative majority of the Israeli public (44%) supports a package deal that includes normalization with Saudi Arabia, the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state that is not controlled by Hamas, and an American-led regional defense alliance. 37% oppose this deal. 19% have not yet formed an opinion on the subject.

A majority of the public (about half of the respondents) supports the international move to impose sanctions on violent settlers and settler organizations that encourage violence in the territories, as long as it is limited to violent settlers only. This, compared to the 33% who oppose the move altogether.

Building a US-sponsored regional coalition is the public’s preferred strategy for dealing with the threat from Iran and its allies. 46% support this option, compared to 32% who support launching an independent military campaign against Iran and its proxies. 14% support the opening of diplomatic negotiations with Iran. Only 8% support the continuation of the existing situation of limited fighting against Iran, Hezbollah and the Houthis.

44% of the public supports an all-out military operation in Lebanon as a preferred strategy to deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon. 25% of the respondents think that the international community should be harnessed to promote a diplomatic move that will lead to the withdrawal of Hezbollah beyond the Litani River. A similar percentage supports the promotion of a broad international arrangement to stabilize the internal system in Lebanon and delineate the land border between the countries. Only 5% support leaving the status quo with Hezbollah.

הפוסט The Israeli Foreign Policy Index of 2024 הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

This year the survey included, among other topics, questions about the implications of the “full-fledged right-wing” government’s policies on Israel’s foreign relations, both in regard to the Judicial Reform as well as its policy in the West Bank; the future of the Arab-Israeli normalization process, with emphasis on Saudi Arabia, and the potential of leveraging it to promote Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking; Iran’s growing nuclear threat; international cooperation on the climate crisis; Israel’s policy in Lebanon; China’s growing involvement in the Middle-East; and Israel’s stance on the war in Ukraine.

הפוסט The Israeli Foreign Policy Index of 2023 הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט The Israeli Foreign Policy Index of 2022 הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט The Israeli Foreign Policy Index for 2021 הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

Findings of the Mitvim Institue Poll, October 2020

The eighth annual public opinion poll of the Mitvim Institute on Israel’s foreign policy was conducted in September 2019. It was carried out by the Rafi Smith Institute and in cooperation with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, among a representative sample of Israel’s adult population (700 men and women, Jews and Arabs) and with a margin of error of 3.5%. The report presents the poll’s key findings, grouped under four categories: Israel’s Foreign Service, Israel’s foreign relations,  Israel and its surrounding regions, and Israel and the Palestinians.

הפוסט The Israeli Foreign Policy Index for 2020 הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

Findings of the Mitvim Institue Poll, November 2019

The seventh annual public opinion poll of the Mitvim Institute on Israel’s foreign policy was conducted in September 2019. It was carried out by the Rafi Smith Institute and in cooperation with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, among a representative sample of Israel’s adult population (700 men and women, Jews and Arabs) and with a margin of error of 3.5%. This report presents the poll’s key findings, grouped under four categories: Israel’s foreign relations, Israel’s Foreign Service, Israel and its surrounding regions, and Israel and the Palestinians.

Key Findings:

A. Israel’s Foreign Relations

• Israelis rank their country’s global standing at 6.10 out of 10. This ranking has been improving every year since 2015.
• Israelis rank the state of Israel-US relations at 7.75 out of 10. This ranking is similar to that of 2018, and is higher than in previous years.
• Israelis see Russia as the most important country for Israel besides the US, followed by Germany, Great Britain, China, France and Egypt.
• 30% of the public thinks that if Benny Gantz will serve as prime minister then Israel’s foreign relations will deteriorate. 25% think they will improve and 27% do not expect any change.
• Israelis want their next government to strengthen the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA; ranking of 7.41 out of 10), and then improve ties with the EU (7.26), improve ties with Arab countries (7.12), improve ties with Mediterranean countries (6.96) and advance peace with the Palestinians (6.18).
• Israelis are split on what is more important for Israel to do ahead of next year’s US presidential elections – draw even closer to Trump and the Republican party (36%) or fix the crisis in its relations with the Democratic Party (34%).
• Israelis are split on whether Israel should prioritize building ties with democratic countries (40%) or should not consider regime type as a factor (40%).

B. Israel’s Foreign Service

• Israelis rank their government’s handling of foreign policy at 5.99 out of 10. This ranking has been improving every year since 2015.
• Israelis rank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MFA) fulfillment of its mission at 5.58 out of 10. This ranking has been improving every year since 2015. The status of the MFA is ranked at 5.37.
• 39% of the public thinks that the main thing an Israeli diplomat does is advancing diplomatic relations (39%), followed by explaining Israel’s positions (18%), representing Israel at events (15%), advancing economic relations (7%), and assisting Israel in distress abroad (4%).
• 50% of Israelis think that Israel should take into account, to a moderate or large extent, the impact of its policy decisions on Diaspora Jews. 35% think this should be taken into account to a limited extent, or none at all.
• In light of the global demonstrations regarding the climate crisis, 43% of Israelis think Israel should focus on solving its own problems. 35% think it should play a more active role in solving global problems.

C. Israel and its Surrounding Regions

• The Israeli public is divided as to whether Israel belongs more to the Middle East (32%), Europe (27%), or the Mediterranean Basin (21%).
• A vast majority of Israelis (68%) think that regional cooperation between Israel and Middle Eastern countries is possible. 20% think it is not.
• Saudi Arabia (25%) and Egypt (19%) are the Arab countries with which Israelis see the most importance in cooperating. Jordan is ranked next, with 3%, and 34% think that Israel should not try to develop cooperation with any Arab country.
• A vast majority of Israelis (71%) think that the peace with Jordan was and still is a strategic asset for Israel. Only 16% think it is less important for Israel today than it was in the past.
• 45% of Israelis think that the EU is currently more of a foe to Israel than a friend (27%). In 2018, 55% thought the EU was a foe, while 18% regarded it as a friend.
• The EU’s image in Israel can be most improved through statements by European politicians on the importance of ties with Israel (32%) and by disseminating more information on existing cooperation between Israel and the EU (31%).
• A majority of Israelis (53% vs. 32%) think that Israel should try to improve its relations with Turkey.

D. Israel and the Palestinians 

• A majority of the Israeli public (55% vs. 24%) think that Israel’s Arab citizens should play a more central role in advancing peace with the Palestinians. However, only 37% think that Israel’s Arab citizens should play a more central role in the formulation of Israel’s foreign policy. 45% think they should not.
• A majority of the public (61%) think that Palestinian President Abbas is not a partner for peace negotiations with Israel. 20% think he is.
• Apart from the US, Israelis would most like to see (26%) the Arab Quartet (Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) mediate in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, followed by Russia (13%), the EU (12%), the UN (9%) and China (4%).
• 46% of Israelis think that peace between Israel and Gulf states can be reached even without progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 32% think that it can be reached only after progress is made in the peace process.
• Israelis are divided on how to prevent another with in Gaza. 24% think it can be done through strengthening Israeli deterrence, 17% believe it can be done through Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and 14% believe it can be done through international mediation. 32% believe that another war in Gaza is unavoidable.
• 55% of the public stated that their image of the UN did not change following the efforts conducted by the UN envoy to the Middle East to prevent war between Israel and Hamas. 13% stated their image changed to the worse, and 12% to the better.

הפוסט The Israeli Foreign Policy Index for 2019 הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט The Israeli Foreign Policy Index for 2018 הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט The 2017 Israeli Foreign Policy Index of the Mitvim Institute הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

 The annual public opinion of the Mitvim Institute on Israel’s foreign policy was conducted, for the fourth consecutive year in late August – early September 2016. It was carried out by the Rafi Smith Institute, and in cooperation with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, among a representative sample of Israel’s adult population (600 men and women, Jews and Arabs, aged 18 and above). The poll’s margin of error is 4%. This report includes the poll findings, grouped under five categories: Israel among the nations, the state of Israel’s foreign policy, foreign policy priorities and bi-lateral relations, regional belonging and cooperation, and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

הפוסט The 2016 Israeli Foreign Policy Index הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

Since 2013, Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies publishes an annual index covering a variety of issues related to Israel’s foreign policy.  The 2015 Israeli Foreign Policy Index of the Mitvim Institute is based on a public opinion poll conductedin mid-October 2015 by the Rafi Smith Institute and in cooperation with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. It sampled 600 men and women, as a representative sample of the Israeli adult population (Jewish and Arab sectors aged 18 and older) and has a margin of error of 4%.

The main poll findings are:

• Israel’s international standing is poor, and is significantly worse than it was last year. Most Israelis believe that improvement in this regard is contingent upon progress in the peace process.

• Israelis disapprove of their government’s conduct in matters of foreign policy and think it has deteriorated since 2014. Israelis also believe Prime Minister Netanyahu failed in addressing the Iranian nuclear issue.

• Israelis believe the weakening of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) harms their country’s national security.

• Israelis want their foreign policy to prioritize addressing security threats, promoting the Israeli-US relationship, and advancing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

• The state of Israel’s relations with the US is viewed as mediocre, and has deteriorated in the past year. Other than the US, Russia is seen as the most important country to Israel in the world.

• The primary reason for Israel to improve ties with Turkey is considered to be the option of promoting security cooperation between the two countries.

• Greater involvement of Arab countries in the peace process is viewed positively and Israelis believe that regional cooperation with Middle Eastern countries is possible.

• The potential of normalized relations with the Arab world is the greatest incentive to achieving peace.

This report includes the detailed poll findings grouped under eight categories: Israel’s global standing; the Israeli government’s foreign policy; the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomacy; the political sphere; foreign policy priorities; Israel’s relations with the US and other countries; international involvement in the peace process; and regional cooperation and belonging. According to Dr. Nimrod Goren, Head of the Mitvim Institute: “The findings show that the public is losing faith in the government’s foreign policy. We see this in the failure attributed to Netanyahu in his efforts to stop the Iranian nuclear project, in the feeling that Israel’s standing in the world and relations with the US are in a sharp decline, and in the concern about the ramifications of weakening the Foreign Ministry. These are all dangerous trends and to reverse them Israel requires a new foreign policy paradigm, one that will respond to ongoing security threats through regional and international cooperation, as well as the promotion of Israeli-Palestinian peace.”

הפוסט The 2015 Israeli Foreign Policy Index הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

The annual public opinion poll of Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies on Israel’s foreign policy has been carried out between September 9 and 11, 2014 by the Rafi Smith Institute and incooperation with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. The poll was conducted among 500 men and women, as  a representative sample of the Israeli adult population (Jewish and Arab sectors, aged 18 and older), with a 4.5% margin of error.

The main poll findings are:

The Israeli public is not satisfied with Israel’s global standing, and thinks that Operation Protective Edge caused damage to it.

Israel’s top foreign policy priorities, in the eyes of the public, should be: relations with the US, the peace process, Israel’s public diplomacy, and relations with moderate countries in the Middle East.

The public thinks that improving Israel’s foreign relations is dependent upon progress in the peace process, and that regional cooperation with Middle Eastern countries is possible.

The US, followed by Russia and Germany, is considered the most important country for Israel in the world.

The public thinks that Israel-US relations should be improved, and regards Egypt as the most important country for Israel in the Middle East.

The public is split on the question of whether Israel belongs more in the Middle East, in Europe or in both in an equal manner; Israelis are not aware of the EU’s offer to significantly upgrade relations with Israel after peace is reached.

Tzipi Livni, followed by Isaac Herzog, is perceived to be best suited for the position of Foreign Minister.

This report includes:

1. The detailed poll findings grouped under four categories: Israel’s global standing, Israel’sforeign policy conduct, foreign policy priorities and bi-lateral relations; regional cooperation and regional belonging.

2. Reactions to the poll findings by Mitvim Institute experts: Dr. Nimrod Goren, Dr. Ilai Saltzman, Prof. Elie Podeh, Dr. Ehud Eiran and Yoav Stern.

3. Reactions to the poll finding by Israeli public figures (Members of Knesset and former senior diplomats): MK Hilik Bar, MK Nitzan Horowitz, Nadia Hilou, Yigal Palmor, Dr. Alon Liel, and Prof. Itamar Rabinovich

הפוסט The 2014 Israeli Foreign Policy Index הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

The majority of the Israeli public believes Israel’s foreign policy is more reactive than proactive and that it is not conducted according to clearly defined principles. A recent poll of Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies found that the Israeli public thinks the country’s foreign policy relies too much on its relationship with the US, and agrees that Israel should use more diplomacy instead of force. The majority of the public recognizes a need to involve the Arab citizens of Israel in a more central role in improving Israel’s relations with other Middle Eastern countries, and agreed that incentives from the international community will be more effective for mobilizing support for the peace process rather than sanctions. The poll findings show that most of the Israeli public, and especially the Arab sector, thinks Israel should offer assistance to other countries in promoting peace processes, based on its own experience throughout the years. Significant public support is given to assist Turkey in the advancement of its peace processes with, for example, Cyprus, the Kurds, or Armenia, as part of the mending of Israeli-Turkish ties. The poll shows that the Israeli public is divided over whether Israel belongs more to Europe, the Middle East, or both. The poll was initiated by the Mitvim Institute and was conducted by the Rafi Smith Institute on28-29 October 2013 among 500 men and women, as a representative sample of the Israeli adult population (Jewish and Arab sectors). The margin of error is 4.5%.

According to Dr. Nimrod Goren, Chairman of the Mitvim Institute, “The poll findings show that the Israeli public is interested in a new type of foreign policy, one that differs from the period Avigdor Lieberman’s previous term as Israel’s foreign minister. Israel needs a new foreign policy paradigm that regards peace and regional belonging as top-priority national projects, emphasizes engagement and cooperation, values pluralism and tolerance, seeks benefits in Israel’s unique multi-regional location, is open-minded towards the international community, and seeks opportunities for the improvement of regional relations”. Dr. Ehud Eiran, from the Mitvim Institute and Haifa University, claims that “it is symbolic that the poll is published in the month of November, when Israel marks the Balfour Declaration and the UN resolution regarding the establishment of a Jewish state. These events marked a change in the discourse about the return to Zion – from a discourse based on biblical promise, to one based on international law and on interaction with the international community. Today, a majority of Israelis want to belong to the family of nations, and to stop being a ‘people dwelling alone’. In contrast to Israel’s traditional policies, the poll findings show that most Israelis want their country to be a more integral part of the regional and global systems”.

הפוסט The 2013 Israeli Foreign Policy Index הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.