New poll reveals: More than half of Israelis admit they fear identifying themselves abroad

A new poll reveals that 52% of Israelis fear identifying themselves as Israelis abroad, and 41% have changed their behavior since October 7. 73% believe a cohesive society is possible, but trust in Jewish-Arab coexistence remains low. 70% rate Israeli hasbara as ineffective.

A new poll by Ma'ariv reveals that 52% of Israelis fear identifying themselves as Israelis abroad to some degree, and 41% reported that since October 7 they have actually changed their behavior abroad, including by changing travel destinations, canceling a trip, or avoiding certain activities. The poll indicates sharp public criticism of Israel's ability to handle the international arena: while 64% assess the strategic relationship between Israel and the US as strong, only 23% believe Israel successfully explains its policies and positions to international audiences, and 70% rate Israeli hasbara as ineffective. Alongside this, 73% of Israelis agree that Israel can be a cohesive society, compared to 67% in February 2026. However, sectoral gaps are evident: while 74% of respondents in Arab society believe in Jewish-Arab coexistence and 48% of secular Jews hold this view, among religious and Haredi Jews the rate stands at only 7%. Conversely, among religious and Haredi Jews, the highest belief in the possibility of coexistence between secular and Haredi Jews was recorded - 88%. In public priorities, the cost of living and the economic situation continue to top the list: 38% believe that reducing the cost of living and strengthening the economy should be the main task of the next government.