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🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

Over half of Israelis fear revealing identity abroad since Oct. 7, study finds

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Over half of Israelis fear revealing their nationality abroad since October 7, a survey by the Center for Jewish Impact found.
  • 41% of Israelis have changed their behavior abroad, such as altering travel plans or avoiding activities, due to rising antisemitism and anti-Israel hostility.
  • Despite concerns about Israel's global image, a majority believe its standing can be improved through long-term public diplomacy strategies and government policy changes.

A significant majority of Israelis, over 52%, now harbor fears about openly identifying as Israeli while traveling abroad, a sentiment that has intensified since the events of October 7. This widespread concern is prompting many to alter their behavior, with 41% reporting changes such as canceling trips, rerouting travel, or abstaining from certain activities.

These anxieties are unfolding against a backdrop of escalating antisemitism, growing anti-Israel sentiment globally, and a perceived deterioration in Israel's international relations. While a majority still view the strategic relationship with the United States as strong, a striking 70% assess Israel's public diplomacy efforts as ineffective, indicating a deep public dissatisfaction with how the nation communicates its policies abroad.

The data illustrates an Israeli society that firmly believes in its capacity to stand together, yet recognizes how long the road ahead remains.

— Robert SingerChairman of the Center for Jewish Impact, commenting on the survey's findings about Israeli society's belief in cohesion despite recognizing ongoing challenges.

Despite the challenges to Israel's global image, the survey reveals a prevailing sense of optimism within the country regarding its standing. A substantial portion of respondents believes Israel's international position is not irrevocably damaged. They identify the formulation of a long-term national strategy for public diplomacy and communication as the most crucial step toward improvement, followed by changes in government policy. Only a minority feel that Israel's global standing cannot be significantly enhanced.

The study also highlighted strong public support for strengthening ties with global Jewry, with a majority believing the state should invest resources in Diaspora communities. Internally, there is also optimism about social cohesion, with a high percentage believing Israel can remain a cohesive society. However, trust in coexistence between secular and Haredi communities, and particularly between Jewish and Arab citizens, remains lower, pointing to ongoing internal challenges.

The fact that the vast majority believes in the potential for cohesion is a true source of optimism, but the wide gap between the abstract belief in unity and the trust in actual coexistence between different communitie

— Robert SingerChairman of the Center for Jewish Impact, further elaborating on the survey's findings regarding societal optimism and the gap between belief in unity and trust in coexistence.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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