Most Arab Israelis feel a part of the State of Israel and its problems, survey finds

10 November 2023, 5:39 pm

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Two women work together at a volunteer center in Rahat, Israel, run by Jewish and Arab volunteers. (Facebook, used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)

A new Israel Democracy Institute survey finds a 20-year high of both Jewish (94%) and Arab (70%) Israelis who say they feel a part of the State of Israel and its problems.

The figure for Arab Israelis has increased by 22% from the last survey published in June 2023.

Asked whether they’re optimistic about the future of the country though, just 27% of Arab Israelis — compared to 72% of Jewish Israelis — responded that they are, the lowest figure recorded since the survey first began measuring optimism in 2009.

Asked, “If you could receive American citizenship or citizenship of another Western country, would you prefer to move there to live or would you prefer to remain in Israel?” a majority of Jewish Israelis (80.5%) and a slight majority of and Arab Israelis (59%) respond that they’d prefer to stay in Israel.

Those majorities held across all political orientations, including left (66%), center (80%) and right (84%).

The survey was conducted online and over the phone on November 5 and 6, with 502 people participating. The margin of error is 4.04%.