Jerusalem, 5 March, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Despite a widening war with Iran, Israelis have a growing sense of optimism about personal safety, national security, and their country’s future, a survey released on Wednesday found.
The findings point to a complex shift in national morale as Israelis weigh the risks of conflict against the belief that the confrontation could reshape the region, Dr. Gayil Talshir of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Agam Labs, which conducted the study, told The Press Service of Israel.
“It shows the complexity of the Israeli mind. On the one hand, there is a sharp rise in concern for personal and national safety, while on the other hand, there is an understanding that toppling the Iranian regime could be a game changer, and hence the optimism for the future of Israel,” Talshir told TPS-IL.
Israel and the U.S. launched airstrikes on Iran’s leadership, military, and nuclear facilities on Saturday. Iran has since retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israel and across the Middle East.
The survey of 3,217 people was conducted from February 26, before the outbreak of the war, through March 3, after the conflict began, allowing researchers to compare attitudes before and after the start of hostilities.
The data show that the share of Israelis reporting high concern for their personal safety rose from 22 percent before the war to 45 percent afterward. Fear regarding national security also increased, with nearly half of respondents reporting high concern compared with roughly one-third before the conflict began.
However, the survey found optimism climbed from 37 percent before the war to 50 percent after its outbreak. Public support for the attack on Iran also remained strong, with 63 percent of respondents backing the strike while 24 percent opposed it.
Talshir said the findings reflect both resilience and the complexities of Israeli society during wartime.
“We surveyed national morale since October 7, 2023, the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. And what we saw is that national unity is very present in the first weeks of the war, but then it disintegrates. Because we are in a polarized society, it will be interesting to see whether national unity sentiment lasts this time,” she said.