A new survey has found that 64 per cent of the Israeli public opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of the normalization process with Saudi Arabia.

The full report, unveiled on June 3 at the 13th Annual Jerusalem Post Conference in New York, highlights a significant shift in Israeli public opinion following the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7.

The survey, conducted by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA) examined the attitudes of Jewish and Arab Israelis on the issue of establishing a Palestinian state as part of the conditions for ending the war against Hamas since October 7. The survey, carried out through an online panel of respondents in late May, included 706 Jewish and Arab participants aged 18-65, representing a cross-section of Israel’s adult population.

Key findings:

Shift in opposition: The survey reveals that the massacre on Oct. 7 led one-third of respondents, who previously believed that a Palestinian state could be established under certain conditions, to change their minds—and now completely oppose it. According to the findings, 59 per cent of Israelis opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state along the 1967 lines even before Oct. 7. After that event, the opposition rose to 68 per cent. Among Jewish respondents, opposition rose from 69 per cent to 79 per cent, while there was no significant change among Arab respondents.

Political disparities: The opposition to a Palestinian state indicates significant political gaps: 84 per cent of right-wing voters, 54 per cent of centrist voters and 24 per cent of left-wing voters oppose the move. Interestingly, a similar percentage of left-wing voters supports the establishment of a Palestinian state without conditions.

Normalization with Saudi Arabia: 64 per cent oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state even in exchange for normalization with Saudi Arabia. Among Jewish respondents, the opposition rate is 74 per cent, while 49 per cent of Arab respondents support the idea.

Control by the Palestinian Authority: 68 per cent of respondents oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state under the control of the Palestinian Authority. Among Jewish respondents, the opposition rate is 78 per cent, compared to 49 per cent of Arab respondents in Israel.

Lack of trust in Palestinian leadership: Additionally, there is a widespread lack of trust in the Palestinian leadership, with 60 per cent of survey participants not viewing any current Palestinian figure, such as Mahmoud Abbas or Marwan Barghouti, as suitable to lead peace with Israel. Thus, 76 per cent of Jewish Israelis do not see a suitable Palestinian personality, while 31 per cent of Arab respondents share this view.

Demographic insights: Among respondents aged 60 and above, support for a demilitarized Palestinian state recognized by Israel dropped from 44 per cent to 32 per cent. A similar decline was recorded among those with academic education (from 29 per cent to 20 per cent) and high-income earners (from 33 per cent to 20 per cent). Opposition was particularly high among young people (70 per cent of those aged 18-29), those with low education (72 per cent) and traditional, religious and Orthodox respondents (74 per cent, 88 per cent and 91 per cent, respectively). Secular respondents showed an opposition rate of 54 per cent.

Dan Diker, president of the JCPA, emphasized: “Public-opinion polls now reflect the Israeli public’s understanding of the issue’s significance after Oct. 7. Considering the Biden administration’s policies, it is crucial to convey this message both to Israeli public representatives and decision-makers in the White House.”