A new poll reveals deep Israeli anxiety about ending the Iran war and growing concerns that the United States — not their own government — holds greater sway over defense decisions.

According to the Jerusalem-based Israel Democracy Institute’s monthly survey of 751 Jewish and Arab Israelis conducted in late April, 59 percent believe ending the war “under current conditions” is incompatible with Israel’s security interests. Support for continuing the conflict cuts across the political spectrum: 52 percent on the left, 70 percent in the center, and 65 percent on the right hold this view.

By contrast, only 26 percent of Jews and 48.5 percent of Arabs believe a war’s end would be compatible with Israeli security. The divide underscores the political fragmentation over how to resolve the conflict.

The pessimism extends beyond the immediate war. Sixty-two percent of Israelis — including 64 percent of Jews and 52 percent of Arabs — say there is a high likelihood of returning to war with Iran, suggesting many view any ceasefire as temporary.

Perhaps most striking, 51 percent of Israelis believe the United States “has greater influence over Israel’s defense decisions than the Israeli government” — a view held by 56.5 percent of Jews and 25.5 percent of Arabs. The finding reflects broader concerns about Israeli autonomy in foreign policy decisions.

General optimism about Israel’s national security dropped to 39 percent in April from 47 percent in March, a sharp one-month decline. Optimism about Israeli democracy fared somewhat better at 44 percent.

On the Lebanon front, the poll found similarly grim expectations: 73 percent believe there is little chance of reaching a stable diplomatic agreement with Lebanon that includes Hezbollah’s disarming. Only 17 percent of Jews expressed optimism on this front.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)