A new Israel poll from Israeli Channel 12 has revealed that most Israelis don’t believe their own government is in charge of the ongoing assault on Gaza — they think Washington is.
The survey, carried out by the Madgam Research Institute, found that 67% of Israelis say the United States is the main decision-maker in the war, despite the so-called ceasefire that came into effect on 10 October 2025. Only 24% think Tel Aviv is leading operations, while the remaining 9% were undecided.
Israel poll: ‘American tutelage’
The Israel poll showed that 69% of Israelis believe their country is under “American tutelage” — with nearly a quarter “strongly agreeing” with that description. Just 8% had no opinion.
In other words, the majority of Israelis appear to accept that their supposedly sovereign government is taking orders from Washington — a striking admission as Israel continues its genocidal campaign in Gaza.
Fears of another political assassination
The survey also found widespread anxiety over the potential for political violence. Two-thirds of respondents said they fear a repeat of the 1995 assassination of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin by right-wing extremist Yigal Amir. The timing of the poll — just before the 30th anniversary of Rabin’s murder during a peace rally — makes that fear all the more telling.
The Haredi conscription row
The poll also touched on the escalating battle over the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) conscription law. More than half of respondents (51%) supported stripping voting rights from religious people who refuse military service, compared with 42% opposed.
The Haredim have been protesting ever since the Supreme Court’s June 2024 ruling ordering them to enlist and ending state funding for yeshivas that refuse to comply. Meanwhile, the opposition accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to push through new legislation that would exempt the Haredim altogether — a move aimed at winning back the religious parties that quit his coalition but are now waiting to return once the exemption passes.
Featured image via REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
By Alaa Shamali
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