jpost.com
Most Israelis See Peace as Path to Security and Economic Growth, Despite Doubts
A new Hebrew University survey reveals that most Israelis believe a peace agreement with Palestinians would boost security and the economy, despite few expecting a deal soon; the findings will be presented at the People's Peace Summit in Jerusalem, May 8–9, organized by It's Time, a coalition of 60 Israeli civil society groups.
- How does political affiliation in Israel influence public opinion regarding a peace agreement with the Palestinians?
- The survey, conducted in April 2025 among 820 Israeli adults, highlights a strong correlation between support for peace and political affiliation. 64% of opposition voters believe a government change would increase peace prospects, compared to 26% of coalition voters. This suggests the current political climate significantly impacts public attitudes toward peace negotiations.
- What are the immediate security and economic implications of a potential Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement according to the recent Hebrew University survey?
- A recent Hebrew University survey reveals that most Israelis believe a peace agreement with Palestinians would significantly improve national security and the economy. Despite skepticism about a deal's feasibility within the next decade, 43% believe their personal security would improve, and 60% expect increased tourism. This contradicts the common perception of lacking public support for peace.
- What is the potential long-term impact of the People's Peace Summit on Israeli-Palestinian peace prospects, given the survey results and the summit's stated goals?
- The People's Peace Summit, expected to be the largest anti-war gathering since October 7th, aims to translate the survey's findings into actionable steps toward peace. The significant optimism regarding economic benefits (e.g., increased tourism and technological partnerships) and enhanced security (reduced rocket attacks and terror incidents) suggests a potential shift in public discourse and political pressure for peace initiatives.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The headline and introduction highlight the survey's unexpected finding that contradicts the "widespread perception" of peace lacking public support. This framing emphasizes the surprising nature of the results, potentially implying that the prevailing view is incorrect. The article focuses heavily on the positive aspects of peace highlighted in the survey, giving less weight to concerns or skepticism expressed by respondents. For example, the significant number of respondents who doubt the feasibility of a deal is mentioned, but not prominently featured.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral, although phrases such as "optimism regarding IDF service" could be considered slightly biased, implying a positive correlation between peace and military service that may not be universally accepted. The description of the summit as the "largest anti-war event" could also be considered subtly biased, framing the event positively and implicitly criticizing any opposing views.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the survey's findings regarding Israeli public opinion on peace with the Palestinians, but omits other relevant perspectives, such as those of Palestinian citizens. The lack of Palestinian voices creates an incomplete picture and potentially overlooks crucial counterarguments or nuances in the conflict.
False Dichotomy
The article doesn't explicitly present false dichotomies, but the framing of the debate as primarily focused on Israeli public opinion implies a dichotomy between Israeli support for peace and the perceived lack of progress, ignoring the complexities and various actors involved in the conflict.
Sustainable Development Goals
The survey shows broad Israeli public support for a peace agreement, believing it would improve national security, boost the economy, and enhance democracy. This indicates a strong public desire for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, aligning with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.