Poll: Israelis see Trump administration has more influence over Israel’s security than PM Netanyahu's government

According to a new poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), many Israelis believe the Trump administration has more influence over Israel’s security than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

The October 2025 Israeli Voice index poll, taken after the Gaza ceasefire agreement, found that 44% of Israelis think the United States has greater influence, 23% believe Israel does, and 28% say the two have equal influence.

Israelis were also asked about the annexation of the West Bank, which President Trump has opposed and publicly declared “isn’t going to happen.”

Thirty-five percent are in favor of the annexation, 33% support reaching a diplomatic agreement with the Palestinians, and 18% want things left as they are now.

Nearly half of Jewish respondents (49.5%) support requiring ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men to serve in the military, except for a limited number of outstanding yeshiva students. Another 31% favor drafting all young Haredi men not engaged in Torah study, while 15% prefer maintaining the current system, allowing only a minority to enlist voluntarily.

Regarding the government’s judicial overhaul legislation, which has been on hold since March 2023 due to widespread protests and strikes that paralyzed the country, 51% of Israelis said it shouldn’t be resumed, while 33% are in favor of it.

The Jewish People Policy Institute separately surveyed Israelis about a suitable name for the war that began on Oct. 7, 2023, with results showing a variety of opinions.

Forty-two percent of respondents preferred “October 7 War,” while 16% preferred the “War of Redemption” or “War of Revival/Tekuma” as recently chosen by the government.

Netanyahu's proposal for the name as a continuation of the War of Independence was strongly criticized by the opposition: 13% of Israelis prefer the original name given by the IDF – “Iron Sword War,” 12% support “Simchat Torah War,” 7% do not think any of the names are appropriate, and 10% did not know how to respond.