IDI recently published its 22nd annual Israeli Democracy Index, a survey of public opinion on the status of Israeli democracy. Over its 20-year history, the survey covers diverse areas, from the state of Israeli democracy to trust in institutions, social tensions, equality, and the balance between Jewish and democratic aspects of Israel’s identity. Presented to the President of Israel, this index serves as a vital resource for policymakers, shaping public discourse and informing decision-making.
The 2024 data was collected in the shadow of war and provides insight into the state of mind of a country facing many of its greatest challenges since its establishment. Contrary to the expectations of many in Israel and abroad, findings indicate that many fundamentals of Israeli society have not shifted since before the events of October 7. Among the factors contributing to this stability, the IDI points to the deep sense of crisis that preceded the war and has persisted in Israel since late 2019—marked by five elections held in quick succession and protests against the proposed judicial overhaul. The views of both Jewish and Arab citizens on key issues have largely remained stable, with only slight fluctuations, having no major impact on Israeli society’s overall dynamics.
The data below represents highlights from the Index that focused on Arab citizens of Israel and Jewish-Arab relations.
How is Israel doing?
- Characterize Israel’s overall situation one year into the war, the percentage of Arabs viewing Israel’s situation negatively had risen to 67%, with only 8% describing it as good or very good. This contrasts with the views of Jews, where 45% considered the situation bad or very bad, while 22% expressed a more positive outlook.
- More than three-quarters of the Arab public think that democratic rule in Israel is in grave danger, as do a small majority of the Jewish public.
- Majority of both Jewish and Arab respondents cited a full-scale multifront war as the greatest external existential threat to the state of Israel. International isolation and boycotts was the second most popular response in the Jewish sample, while the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ranked second in the Arab sample.
- For Jewish respondents, the most serious internal threat to Israel is posed by differences of opinion over the appropriate balance between Israel as both a Jewish and democratic state (29%), while Arab respondents identified tensions between Jews and Arabs in Israel as the greatest internal existential threat (39%).
- While the majority of Arabs feel “part of the State of Israel and its problems,” their share has decreased over time—66% in May 2024 and 59% in October 2024—compared to 86% and 84% of Jews in the same respective periods. This highlights a “growing sense of detachment or disconnection among Arabs in Israel regarding their relationship with the state and its challenges.”
- 67 % of Arabs and 65% of Jews still believe that Israel is a good place to live.
Tensions in Israeli Society
- In 2024, there was a significant rise in the perception that the most acute social tension in Israeli society is between the Right and Left (48%). This marks a shift from 2021-22, when tensions between Jews and Arabs were viewed as the most acute at 61% but now ranked second at 31%.
Social Solidarity
- The percentage of Israelis who agree with the statement that Israelis can always count on their fellow Israelis in times of trouble was higher this year than in the past in both the Jewish and Arab samples (Jews, from 68% in 2022 to 81% in 2024; and Arabs, from 39% in 2022 to 62% in 2024).
Public Trust in Institutions
- Trust in the Israel’s major institutions, including all three branches of government, has reached record lows. However, a significant gap in trust levels between Jews and Arabs persisted, with Jews expressing higher levels of trust in all institutions compared to Arabs.
- While a large majority trust the IDF (77%), only a slim majority of Jewish Israelis believe it is politically neutral. Fewer than one-third of Arabs share this view.
- Only 22% of Arab respondents trust the police, compared to 44% in Jewish sample.
- The Supreme Court holds significantly more public trust than the other branches of government, yet it is at an all-time low, with only 39% expressing confidence in the institution.
- Since October 7, civil society organizations in Israel have had a significant impact. In both Jewish and Arab samples, about two-thirds of respondents believe these organizations serve Israeli society better than state institutions.
Read the Full Report
