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A new poll conducted by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) has revealed deep-seated fears among the Israeli public over the risk of civil war, highlighting growing divisions in society and declining trust in state institutions.
According to the JPPI’s latest “Israeli Society Index,” 60% of respondents believe there is a real danger that civil conflict could erupt in the country.
Barak’s statement resonated with 27% of respondents, who agreed with his assessment, while another 33% believed he was exaggerating but still acknowledged the risk of civil war. Just 16% dismissed the notion entirely, believing no such danger exists.
The perception of risk was particularly pronounced across the political spectrum, with majorities on the left and center acknowledging the threat. Only among right-wing respondents did a majority reject the idea of an impending civil war.
This is not the first time such fears have been registered. A July 2023 poll by Maariv during the peak of protests against the controversial “reasonableness” law also showed 58% of Israelis feared civil war.
The JPPI poll also tackled sensitive questions regarding institutional authority, specifically the potential dismissal of Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A slight majority (51%) opposed the High Court’s intervention in Bar’s potential firing, with 40% believing the court lacked authority entirely, and 11% agreeing it had authority but that the dismissal was justified. Meanwhile, 38% said the court should cancel the dismissal.
Views were even more polarized along ideological lines, with 76% of right-wing respondents denying court authority over Bar’s dismissal, while a majority on the left supported judicial intervention.
A similar trend emerged regarding the potential dismissal of Baharav-Miara. While 53% opposed court involvement, 35% believed the court lacked jurisdiction, and 18% said her removal was justified regardless of the court’s authority. Still, 35% supported judicial intervention to stop her dismissal.
Despite these divisions, a strong majority agreed that any ruling by the High Court should be respected. Forty percent said non-compliance would plunge Israel into a constitutional crisis, and 23% argued that the court is the rightful interpreter of the law.
However, one-third of those polled believed the government should not comply with such rulings, with two-thirds of right-wing respondents holding that view.
On the issue of a so-called “deep state,” the poll showed Israelis are evenly split. While 40% support Prime Minister Netanyahu’s claim that public institutions are biased and working against the elected government, another 40% rejected this, and 20% felt the claim was exaggerated but acknowledged issues of balance between state institutions.
Commenting on the findings, JPPI Vice President Dr. Shuki Friedman warned, “We are dangerously sliding down a slope that could lead to even harsher internal conflict.”
He urged leaders to act with moderation and seek reconciliation to prevent further deterioration in public trust and national unity.