Israelis Satisfied With Municipal Services, Central Bureau Survey Shows
A new Central Bureau of Statistics survey reveals that 66% of Israelis are satisfied with municipal services, though deep gaps persist between major cities and between Jewish and Arab residents.
A new social survey released by the Central Bureau of Statistics examines public attitudes toward municipal services in 2025, revealing that while a majority of the public believes local authorities are functioning well, deep gaps persist between different cities and between Jewish and Arab citizens.
Municipal Satisfaction Trends in Major Cities
The municipal satisfaction map in Israel is undergoing a significant transformation. Data shows that 66% of residents rate their municipality's performance positively, while slightly over a quarter (27%) are dissatisfied.
A review of major cities points to contrasting trends over the past decade:
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Petah Tikva demonstrates the most dramatic jump, surging from 61% to 85% in positive resident assessments since 2015.
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Rishon LeZion also strengthened, climbing to 81%.
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Jerusalem shows consistent improvement, with positive ratings growing from 39% to 68%.
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Tel Aviv maintains stability at 76%.
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Bnei Brak, conversely, experienced erosion, dropping from 61% to 56%, while Netanya also saw a slight decline to 71%.
Gaps Between Jewish and Arab Sectors
The survey exposes a pronounced lack of trust within Arab society toward local government. While 69% of Jewish respondents are satisfied with municipal performance, the figure stands at only 53% among Arab respondents. This gap sharpens considerably on the issue of equality:
40% of the Arab sector claim that local authorities do not provide services equitably, compared to only 15% in the Jewish sector who feel this way.
Service Quality and Digital Transformation
Over the past year, 2.1 million Israelis turned to their local authority for service. The absolute majority (74%) came away satisfied, though service quality varies geographically. In Tel Aviv, 78% of residents noted receiving good service and precise guidance, compared to only 63% in Haifa. The primary vulnerability for municipalities remains waiting times, with a third of applicants in large cities bothered by the duration required to receive a response.
The data also reflects a behavioral shift in how citizens consume municipal services. 40% of inquiries to municipalities are now conducted via the internet, with the figure spiking to 65% in Tel Aviv. Simultaneously, the smaller the locality, the more residents prefer to maintain personal contact with municipal employees. Adults aged 35 to 39 and married individuals are the heaviest consumers of municipal services, a figure that gradually declines with age.
