Israelis war-weary but most oppose Iran ceasefire, poll suggests
Israelis Express Weariness, Yet Ceasefire Opposition Persists
Liat Zvi, standing near the shattered windows and damaged walls of her Tel Aviv apartment, expresses the exhaustion felt by many Israelis. “It’s disheartening… we’ve endured a war lasting over two years, and this just feels like another cycle,” she says. Six weeks prior, her neighborhood was struck by an Iranian missile that bypassed Israel’s layered air defenses, hitting a residential building and killing Mary Anne Velasquez de Vera, a 32-year-old Filipina caregiver. This marked the first Israeli fatality in the Iran conflict, which is currently held in a fragile stalemate.
Public Sentiment and Ceasefire Opposition
A recent survey by Hebrew University of Jerusalem highlights Israeli war fatigue. However, it also reveals that two-thirds of respondents still oppose the current truce between the US and Iran. The majority believe neither Iran nor Hezbollah in Lebanon has been significantly weakened by recent US and Israeli airstrikes. When asked to describe their current mood, a third named “despair,” followed by “confusion” and “anger.” “Hope” ranked fourth.
“If we’re not going to dismantle Iran’s proxy networks here, then this ceasefire is meaningless,” Zvi remarks at home. “You have to arrive at the table as strong as possible.”
Despite doubts about the military’s success, the public is divided on whether to keep targeting Iran. Nearly 40% argue attacks on Tehran must continue, while 41% support respecting the ceasefire. The survey included 1,312 Israelis—1,084 Jews, 228 Arabs—representing the broader population. Notably, less than 20% of Arab respondents favored resuming strikes against Iran.
The Lebanon Conflict and Ceasefire Divide
When it comes to Hezbollah, the sentiment shifts. Many Israelis insist peace in Lebanon should wait until the group relinquishes its weapons. The Hebrew University poll suggests most Israelis agree Lebanon should not be part of an Iran ceasefire. Israel, backed by the US, frames the Hezbollah conflict as a separate struggle, insisting the northern border threat must be eliminated. Meanwhile, Pakistan and Iran included Lebanon in the agreement, with Tehran threatening to restart attacks if Israel persists.
Upcoming talks in Washington DC between Lebanon and Israel aim to address this divide. Though the negotiations mark progress, few expect immediate results. Netanyahu agreed to the discussions after being urged by Trump to reduce strikes on Lebanon following the Iran ceasefire’s initiation.
The Lebanese health ministry reported over 350 deaths—more than a third women and children—during the air strikes last Wednesday. This underscores the human cost of the ongoing tensions, even as Israelis grapple with their own frustrations and hopes for resolution.
