Over a quarter of Israel's population contemplate emigration: Poll
Nine months into the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, hopes for the recovery of the country's economy and security appear increasingly grim
More than a fourth of Israel’s population say they would leave the country if they could, according to a new survey published on 17 July by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI).
The poll results show that about 25 percent of Jewish Israelis and 40 percent of Palestinians with Israeli citizenship agreed with the statement, “If I had a practical possibility to immigrate abroad, I would do so.”
Based on the most recent census figures from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, this would be proportional to 1,811,750 Jewish Israelis and 835,600 Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, making up more than a quarter of the country’s population.
The survey also shows that public trust in Israel’s political and military leadership has dropped dramatically. Fifty-five percent of respondents said they had low or very low trust in the army’s command, and only 26 percent expressed confidence in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Concerning who should rule Gaza once the genocidal war ends, Jewish Israelis do not show a significant preference for any of the options available. Thirty-five percent support Palestinian civilian rule and Israeli security control, while 28 percent want to see full Israeli civilian and security control of the strip.
Only 12 percent of Jewish respondents support a US-backed plan for civilian rule by “Palestinian entities with Arab support” and Israeli security control.
The JPPI survey also sheds light on shifting attitudes toward Tel Aviv’s plans to expand the war against Lebanon, with support for the anticipated campaign dropping from 62 percent in March to 56 percent in July. Concurrent with this drop, support for a diplomatic solution with Beirut has risen, as 37 percent of Jewish Israelis and 67 percent of Palestinians with Israeli citizenship say they support a “political settlement” without expanding the war.
On Israel’s battered economy, most respondents said they do not want the government to hike security spending at the cost of public services and lower the standard of living, with only 41 percent of Jewish Israelis and 21 percent of Palestinians with Israeli citizenship agreeing such a move is needed.