As the conflict between Israel and Iran continues, public opinion inside Israel shows strong support for the military campaign. Although Iranian retaliatory attacks are still occurring, daily life in parts of Israel is slowly returning to normal.
About a week into the war, some emergency restrictions introduced at the beginning of the conflict—such as bans on large gatherings and the temporary closure of shops and offices—are gradually being relaxed. However, Israelis across the country still rush to shelters whenever air-raid sirens warn of incoming missiles or drones.
For many citizens, the war is seen as another chapter in a long history of conflict.
Strong Public Support for the War
A recent survey conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute revealed overwhelming support for the war among Jewish Israelis. According to the poll, 93% of Jewish citizens support the military campaign against Iran.
However, support is far lower among Arab citizens of Israel, where only about 26% support the war.
Professor Tamar Hermann, a senior researcher involved in the survey, described the level of support as unusually high.
She noted that even during previous conflicts with Iran or its allies, public backing had rarely reached such levels.
One reason for this strong support is the limited damage inside Israel so far. Iranian missile and drone attacks have caused relatively few casualties compared to expectations.
Israel’s Advanced Air Defense
Israeli officials say that the country’s multi-layered air-defense system has intercepted 80–90% of Iranian missiles launched during the conflict.
These defense systems include technologies designed to detect and destroy incoming threats before they reach populated areas.
As a result, despite hundreds of missiles and drones launched toward Israel, the total number of deaths remains relatively low—around 10 fatalities reported so far.
This success has strengthened public confidence in Israel’s military and intelligence agencies.
Restoring Trust After Security Failures
Another factor behind public unity is the effort to rebuild trust in Israel’s security institutions following the devastating attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Those attacks exposed serious intelligence and security failures. Since then, Israeli leaders have been under intense pressure to restore public confidence.
The confrontation with Iran is now seen by many Israelis as an opportunity to demonstrate strength and regain deterrence against regional threats.
Iran has long been accused by Israel of supporting armed groups such as Hamas and other regional militias that surround Israel in what Israeli officials often describe as a “ring of fire.”
Iran Seen as an Existential Threat
For decades, many Israeli leaders have described Iran as a major existential threat to Israel’s survival.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been one of the most vocal advocates of confronting Iran.
In his 1995 book Combating Terrorism, as well as in numerous speeches—including his famous presentation at the United Nations in 2012—Netanyahu repeatedly warned that Iran was getting dangerously close to developing nuclear weapons.
During that speech, he famously displayed a drawing of a bomb to illustrate what he described as Iran’s nuclear progress.
Last year, Netanyahu ordered a major strike that significantly damaged Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. The United States later joined the conflict, leading to what some analysts called the “Twelve-Day War.”
Inside Israel, that campaign was widely celebrated and increased public support for the military.
Hopes for Political Change in Iran
Some Israeli officials have openly suggested that the conflict could eventually lead to political change in Iran.
Even after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the opening strikes of the war, however, such a transformation still appears uncertain.
Iran’s leadership has long called for Israel’s destruction. Khamenei himself repeatedly urged supporters to chant “Death to America” and strongly opposed Israel’s existence.
Because of this rhetoric, many Israelis believe the conflict is unavoidable.
Netanyahu’s Vision of a “New Era”
Prime Minister Netanyahu recently declared that the war could lead to “a period of peace we could never have imagined.”
He also rejected claims that he had pushed the United States into the conflict, calling those accusations “nonsense.”
Inside Israel, his decision to launch the war has received very little criticism, even from political opponents.
Another survey found that 57% of Jewish Israelis believe the attacks should continue until Iran’s current leadership is removed from power.
Israeli Citizens Reflect on Years of Crisis
Many Israelis say they feel exhausted after years of political and security turmoil.
Citizen Tom Dan described the past five years as a period of constant instability. First came massive protests over judicial reforms proposed by Netanyahu’s government. Then came the Hamas attacks in 2023. Now the country faces a full-scale confrontation with Iran.
Despite this fatigue, many Israelis believe the war is justified.
According to Tom Dan:
“There has been continuous crisis for years. But many people feel this is a necessary fight because the Iranian regime has declared that it wants to destroy Israel.”
International Reactions and Concerns
While support inside Israel remains strong, attitudes abroad—especially in the United States—are more divided.
A recent poll conducted by Reuters and Ipsos found that only about one in four Americans support the attacks on Iran.
This suggests that if the conflict continues, it could affect Israel’s international image and political support abroad.
Conclusion
Inside Israel, the war with Iran has produced rare political unity and strong public backing. Most Jewish Israelis see Iran as a long-term existential threat and support military action aimed at weakening or even replacing Iran’s leadership.
However, the broader consequences of the conflict remain uncertain. If the war expands further or leads to prolonged instability in the region, it could reshape alliances, affect global politics, and test Israel’s relationships with key international partners.
For now, Israelis appear determined to continue the fight—hoping it will ultimately lead to greater security and a more stable future.
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