New survey: More than half of Israelis fear identifying themselves abroad
According to the "Israeli Society Barometer" survey, 52% of Israelis are afraid to identify themselves abroad, and 41% have changed their behavior since October 7. While 73% believe in the possibility of a cohesive society, trust in coexistence between Jews and Arabs remains low.
More than half of Israelis have been afraid to identify themselves as Israelis abroad since October 7, 2023. This is according to the "Israeli Society Barometer" survey, conducted in August by the Center for Jewish Impact using the Geocartography Group.
Against the backdrop of internal rifts, the survey shows that 73% of Israelis agree that Israel can be a cohesive society, compared to 67% in February 2026. However, only 64% believe that secular and Haredi can live in coexistence, and only 42% currently believe in coexistence between Jews and Arabs.
The breakdown shows that gaps between population groups are particularly prominent regarding Jewish-Arab relations. While 74% of respondents in the Arab society believe in Jewish-Arab coexistence and 48% of secular Jews hold this position, among religious and Haredi the rate stands at only 7%. Conversely, it is precisely among religious and Haredi that the highest belief in the possibility of coexistence between secular and Haredi was recorded — 88%.
The survey also points to sharp public criticism of Israel's ability to operate in the international arena. While 64% assess the strategic relationship between Israel and the USA as strong, only 23% believe that Israel succeeds in effectively explaining its policy and positions to international audiences, while 70% assess Israeli public diplomacy as ineffective.
This feeling also reaches the personal level, as 52% of Israelis are afraid to some extent to identify themselves as Israelis while abroad, and 41% reported that since October 7, they have changed their behavior, such as by changing travel destinations, canceling trips, or avoiding certain activities.
Alongside this, the public does not believe that Israel's international status is an irreversible situation. 33% see the formulation of a long-term national strategy in public diplomacy as the central step required to improve Israel's status, while 25% point to a change in government policy and decision-making processes. Only 14% believe it is impossible to significantly improve Israel's international status.
The barometer also points to broad support for the connection between Israel and world Jewry: 70% of the public believe that the State of Israel should invest resources in Jewish communities in the diaspora. 26% prefer that the investment focus on encouraging Aliyah, 23% on protecting the security of Jewish communities, and 17% on assistance through civil society organizations.
"The data presents an Israeli society that believes in its power to stay together, but also understands how long the road to there still is," noted the chairman of the Center for Jewish Impact, Robert Singer. "The fact that the majority believe in the possibility of cohesion is a source of optimism, but the huge gap between the belief in cohesion in general and the trust in coexistence between the groups requires us to act. Equally, the fact that most Israelis are not satisfied with the way Israel explains itself in the world, and that more than half are afraid to identify themselves as Israelis abroad, should turn on a red light."
The survey also shows that the cost of living and the economic situation remain at the top of the public's priorities: 38% believe that reducing the cost of living and strengthening the economy should be the central task of the next government, ahead of strengthening national security (25%), promoting unity (13%), and solving the conscription crisis (11%).
The survey was conducted by the Geocartography Group among a representative sample of 500 respondents (Jews and Arabs aged 18 and over).
