Only one third of Israeli Arabs say they feel safe in Israel, poll finds

An Israel Democracy Institute poll found about one-third of Arab respondents said it is safer for Arabs to live in Israel, while roughly three-quarters of Jewish respondents said it is safer for Jews to live in Israel.

A new poll from the Israel Democracy Institute shows differing views on safety and confidence in state institutions between Jewish and Arab citizens. The survey was conducted between December 28, 2025 and January 1, 2026 and is part of IDI’s monthly Israeli Voice Index. It surveyed 602 Jewish and 150 Arab adult respondents and was released amid ongoing regional tensions and domestic political debates. Key findings: - Approximately three-quarters of Jewish respondents said they believe it is safer for Jews to live in Israel than abroad. - Only about one-third of Arab respondents said it was safer for Arabs to live in Israel; others said it was safer abroad or saw little difference. - The survey was carried out Dec. 28, 2025–Jan. 1, 2026 and included 602 Jewish and 150 Arab adults as part of IDI’s monthly index. - Support for a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 failures remains a majority but has declined by about 10 percentage points compared with prior surveys. Summary: The poll highlights persistent differences in perceptions of safety and trust between Jewish and Arab citizens and could influence public debate as general elections approach later in the year. Undetermined at this time.