Following the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, a new survey from the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA) revealed a striking trend: most Jewish Israelis are against any hostage deal that would leave Hamas with a foothold in Gaza.
Even more revealing is that 70% of all participants fear another October-style massacre this time originating from the West Bank.
The poll also revealed a consistent stance among Israelis. 66% remain opposed to the creation of a Palestinian State based on the pre-1967 borders—a figure that has held steady in recent surveys.
Among Jewish Israelis, opposition climbs even higher to 78%, with a mere 1% voicing unconditional support for such a Palestinian state.
The numbers suggest not just political resistance but a deep-rooted skepticism about the viability and security implications of a two-state solution in today’s climate.
Here’s my take: While international attention remains fixed on Hamas in Gaza, Israel hasn’t forgotten that Hamas gained ground in both Gaza and the West Bank during the 2006 elections. Their extremist ideology didn’t stop at the coastal strip; it seeped into Judea and Samaria, where it continues to inspire violence. Israelis aren’t just looking backward at what happened on October 7th, they’re looking eastward toward what might be coming.
