An overwhelming majority of Israelis believe Iran emerged stronger from the recent conflict in the Middle East and the subsequent agreement reached with the United States, according to the results of a new public opinion survey published Sunday.
The poll, conducted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in cooperation with the Agam Institute, surveyed 3,644 respondents between June 17 and June 20.
The findings are likely to reinforce growing criticism in Israel of the U.S.-Iran understanding that ended the conflict, which began on Feb. 28 following a joint military offensive by the United States and Israel against Iran.
According to the survey, 92.1% of respondents said Iran either won the conflict or gained more from it than Israel. Meanwhile, 82.9% said the war and its outcome had weakened Israel’s long-term security.
Among respondents identifying with Israel’s political right, which forms the core support base of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 93.1% said they believed Iran emerged victorious.
The poll also revealed widespread opposition to the agreement between Washington and Tehran. Nearly two-thirds of respondents, or 63.2%, said they opposed the deal, while only 12.1% expressed support for it.
Confidence in Israel’s political leadership also appeared to have declined. Some 72.5% of those surveyed said they did not trust Netanyahu’s statements regarding the achievements of the military campaign, while 56.4% described his management of the war as either “weak” or “a failure.”
Support for Netanyahu remaining in office also fell during the period covered by the conflict. The survey found that backing for the prime minister dropped from 40.5% in early March to 29.4% in June.
Despite negative views of the conflict with Iran, respondents expressed stronger support for military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
According to the survey, 48.2% favored a large-scale military operation against Hezbollah, even if such action were to create tensions with Washington. By contrast, 21% opposed such a move.
The U.S.-Iran understanding includes a cessation of hostilities across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, where renewed clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have continued since March. However, recent days have seen an escalation in cross-border tensions, with both sides accusing each other of violating ceasefire arrangements.
Iran has warned that continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon could jeopardize the agreement reached with Washington. Officials from Iran and the United States were scheduled to hold talks in Switzerland on Sunday as part of efforts to negotiate a final accord.
Meanwhile, relative calm was reported in Lebanon following statements from an Israeli military official indicating that the army had been instructed by political leaders to halt offensive operations and focus on defensive activities within the security zone established after Israel’s ground incursion.
The survey reflects growing debate within Israel over the strategic consequences of the conflict, the effectiveness of government leadership and the long-term implications of the emerging diplomatic framework between Washington and Tehran.
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