Israelis and Their Opinions in Polls

I have blogged about this aspect of Israeli public opinion previously.

To summarize:

1. Most Israelis lean right. This is obvious since 1977 when governments favoring right-wing policies have consistently been able to be confirmed by Knesset vote due to a majority of the parties agreeing to such a policy.

2.  In answering polls, a majority responds with right-leaning opinions.

3. When asked specifics, however they tend to reply in a way in which they think complies with hw the world thinks they should be thinking.

Example from the December Peace Index:

The status of Jerusalem - between aspirations and reality: What do Israelis want? A majority of the Jewish public (72%) thinks that after stable peace between Israel and the Palestinians has been achieved, Jerusalem should be united and the capital of Israel (including those who would accept the Islamic holy places being in the Palestinians’ hands). Very few see a likelihood of alternatives that would reduce Israel’s control of the city: 12% think that in a situation of peace, the western part should remain the capital of Israel and the eastern part should be the capital of Palestine; 7% say Jerusalem should be an international city; while 5.5% believe the city should remain united and be the joint capital of Israel and Palestine. In the Arab public the highest rate, 44%, wants the city to be divided with the eastern part serving as the capital of Palestine and the western part as the capital of Israel. The second largest rate, 22%, wants it to remain united and be the capital of both countries, Israel and Palestine.And what do people think will actually happen? To the question “What, in your opinion, will in fact happen if a peace agreement is signed between Israel and the Palestinians?” half (50%) of the Jewish public answered that the city will remain united and the capital of Israel (including those who think it will remain united but the Islamic holy places will be transferred to the Palestinians), about a quarter expect it to be divided and to be the capital of both states, and small percentages chose a common capital or an international city as likely alternatives. The high rate of Arab interviewees who did not give an answer to this question, about one-third, prevents us from relating to this sample’s distribution of responses.

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