Israelis feel more Middle Eastern as views of Europe sour, study finds

Three years after the October 7 Hamas-led massacres in Israel, a 2026 Hebrew University-European Forum Barometer survey reveals a notable change among Israelis regarding their identity, security, and relationship with Europe. Many Jewish Israelis now view themselves as more Israeli than European, while Arab Israeli respondents reported a weakened sense of Israeli identity.

The survey, led by Prof. Gisela Dachs of the DAAD Center for German Studies and the European Forum at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, surveyed perceptions between Israel and four European countries – Germany, France, Great Britain, and Poland. It found that Jewish Israelis have a stronger sense of Israeli identity while perceiving their country as more Middle Eastern than European compared to previous surveys conducted in 2022 and 2024.

Moreover, Israelis overwhelmingly view Israel as safer for Jews than Europe, with European respondents displaying more divided opinions. The study also highlights a growing skepticism towards the European Union, with Israeli respondents more likely to express disagreement about the EU's success. Germany and Hungary are still seen as Israel's closest European friends, while France and Spain are perceived as the most antisemitic countries.

The survey identifies significant differences in how Jewish and Arab Israelis view the situation of Jews in Europe, with a majority of Israelis believing the situation of Jews in Europe will worsen. Israeli attitudes toward Europe's far right remain divided, with a majority of Jewish Israelis supporting ties with far-right parties in Europe if they support Israel.

However, this viewpoint has shifted among Arab Israelis, who are increasingly less concerned about the AfD's growing influence in Germany, a far-right party founded in 2013.