Poll: Israelis prefer annexing Judea & Samaria over two-state solution

Just over a quarter of Israeli Jews say Israel should pursue a negotiated settlement with the Palestinian Authority, a new poll shows.

By World Israel News Staff

A plurality of Israelis want Israel to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, favoring annexation of the territories over a negotiated settlement with the Palestinian Authority or continuation of the status quo, a new poll shows.

The poll was conducted from November 2nd to the 6th by the Israel Democracy Institute’s Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research. A representative sample of 746 Israeli Jews and Arabs over 18 was surveyed for the poll.

When asked what their preferred solution is for the administration of Judea and Samaria, 41% of Israeli Jews said they wanted Israel to extend sovereignty over the territories, compared to just 27% who back talks with the Palestinian Authority for a final status agreement.

Less than one-in-five (17%) want to maintain the status quo.

Arab Israelis, however, strongly favor talks with the PA, with 61% backing a negotiated settlement compared to just 5% who want Israel to annex Judea and Samaria, with 25% supporting a continuation of the status quo.

An absolute majority (58%) of self-described right-wing Israeli Jews prefer annexation, compared to just 7% of left-wing Jews and 19% of centrists.

Thirteen percent of right-wing Jews back negotiations with the PA, while 71.5% of leftists and 39% of centrists say they support a diplomatic agreement.

Turning to the issue of draft deferments for yeshiva students, 49.5% of Jewish respondents say that all ultra-Orthodox draft-age men should be conscripted, with only a small number of top yeshiva students given deferments or service exemptions.

Nearly a third (31%) of Israeli Jews say that only ultra-Orthodox men not engaged in full-time yeshiva studies should be drafted, while 15% back the arrangement prior to 2024, under which all students enrolled in yeshivas were eligible to apply for annual service deferments.