Majority of Israelis support military buffer zones in Gaza, Lebanon, West Bank after Oct. 7 - poll

A significant majority of Israelis believe that the lessons learned from the October 7, 2023, massacre necessitate the maintenance of defensible borders, buffer zones, and a security presence in strategic areas. This finding comes from a new nationwide public opinion survey conducted for the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA) and published on Tuesday.

The survey reveals broad public support for preserving Israel's territorial security components and widespread skepticism regarding alternatives such as international guarantees or territorial withdrawals. Specifically, 54% of Israelis feel their borders are not sufficiently protected following the October 7 events, while only 42% believe they are adequately secured. Furthermore, 56% of respondents attribute the security failure that allowed the terror attack to a combination of factors rather than a single, isolated lapse.

Regarding the Gaza Strip, 64% of Israelis favor maintaining a permanent military buffer zone along the border, with an additional 11% supporting this within a temporary arrangement. In total, approximately three-quarters of the public endorse the continued existence of a security buffer zone in the strip.

On the northern front, 73% of Israelis support the IDF continuing to maintain a presence and a buffer zone in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, with only 14% opposing this measure. There is also substantial backing for a continued Israeli presence on the Syrian border, with 60% supporting Israel's control and security presence in the area, whether by maintaining the status quo or expanding the buffer zone.

In the West Bank, 57% of Israelis believe Israel must maintain a permanent military presence in the Jordan Valley, irrespective of any future political settlement, viewing it as a non-negotiable security necessity. Only 11% believe this presence can be relinquished. The survey also highlights a significant distrust in international solutions, with 65% of Israelis not trusting international forces to replace Israel's military presence on the country's borders. Of these, 40% believe only Israel can defend itself, and another 25% cite the historical failure of international forces to provide effective security.

Consequently, 61% of Israelis oppose a peace agreement that would require a complete withdrawal from the West Bank without Israeli-controlled buffer zones, while only 27% would support such a move. The survey also indicates a reassessment of past military decisions, with 48% of Israelis now defining the Oslo Accords as a strategic mistake and 56% believing the Gaza disengagement plan was a strategic error.