Most Israelis say ending Iran war now would not serve security interests, poll finds

The findings show that 62% of respondents believe another large-scale confrontation with Iran is likely, while 30% say the possibility of renewed fighting is low.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

A majority of Israelis believe ending the war with Iran under current conditions would not align with Israel’s security interests, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Israel Democracy Institute.

A recent poll of Israelis asked their opinions about ending the current conflict with Iran; 59% of the overall sample said doing so now would be either only slightly compatible or not compatible at all with Israel’s security interests.

Roughly two-thirds of Jewish respondents expressed that position, while nearly half of Arab respondents took the opposite view.

The findings showed that 62% of respondents believe another large-scale confrontation with Iran is likely, while 30% said the possibility of renewed fighting is low.

The survey also reflected growing unease over Israel’s international position and decision-making process. Some 72% of respondents described declining support for Israel among the American public as somewhat or very worrying.

At the same time, 51% said the US administration has more influence over Israeli defense policy than Israel’s own government, up from 44% in October 2025. Only 18% said Israel’s government holds greater influence over those decisions.

The poll also pointed to declining public confidence in several national areas. Optimism regarding Israel’s national security dropped from 47% in March to 39% in April. Confidence in social cohesion also declined, falling from 30% to 22.5%.

By comparison, attitudes toward the economy and democratic governance remained stable.

Respondents were also pessimistic about prospects for a future arrangement with Lebanon. Nearly three-quarters said the chances of achieving a lasting diplomatic-defense agreement with the Lebanese government, including the disarmament of Hezbollah, were low or nonexistent.

Asked about Israel’s long-term approach to security, the largest group said military capabilities and diplomatic agreements should carry equal weight. In the shorter term, support for emphasizing military power declined to 28.5%, while backing for diplomatic agreements rose to 30.5%.

The survey also found that a plurality of respondents believe security forces are too lenient toward settlers involved in violence against Palestinians. Among Jewish respondents, that share rose to 46%.

The Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research conducted the survey between April 26 and April 30, 2026, among 601 Jewish and 150 Arab respondents ages 18 and older.