A House of Cards: The Collapse of Public Confidence in Israel

Public confidence in political institutions and the security apparatus has alarmingly declined, according to the latest survey conducted by the Israeli National Security Institute. To illustrate the severity of this social discontent, consider that while 71% of respondents said they had a strong trust in the military, the figure represents a troubling decrease of 6% from the previous month and an even more distressing 11% drop since the onset of the ongoing war on Gaza. Furthermore, only a mere 28% of Jewish participants indicated that they would be prepared to push their military-aged children to enlist—a significant decline from the preceding months, when this figure stood at 31%. In addition, trust in the police force has plummeted to 33%, further indicating an erosion of confidence in those charged with maintaining public order. Even more concerning is the state of public trust in government institutions, which, with a dismal decline of 6%, has reached a nadir of 17%. This revelation highlights a structural breakdown in public confidence in Israeli leadership in times of turmoil as well as political legitimacy. Perhaps most telling of all is the finding that 73% of the respondents believe that reliance on American support is essential for their survival. This striking statistic vividly underscores a waning sense of statehood, reflecting the dwindling popular faith in a crumbling political system.