From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Israelis split on joining possible US strike on Iran, survey finds
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleStav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel
Israelis are almost evenly split over whether the country should take part in a potential US-led attack on Iran, a new Israel Democracy Institute survey finds amid heightened tensions with the Islamic Republic.
Half of respondents say Israel should join such a strike only if Iran attacks Israel first, while 44 percent support direct military participation from the outset, coordinated with Washington.
Support for immediate involvement is strongest on the political right, while most Israelis in the center and left favor holding back unless Israel is struck first.
The poll also finds broad concern about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to gradually reduce US military aid, with 49% of Israelis believing it will harm national security.
Additionally, the survey finds a rise in optimism about Israel’s future – particularly on national security and the economy – but also underscores deep Jewish-Arab divides. While 52% of Jews said they are optimistic about the future of Israel’s national security, only 11% of Arab respondents expressed the same view.
The survey was conducted January 25-29 among a representative sample of 755 Jewish and Arab adults.
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