Israelis share values with the EU, and positively describe the relation between the EU and Israel, poll finds

Most Israelis feel that the EU and Israel share sufficient common values to cooperate (63%), and more than half of them consider that their country actually has good relations with the EU , according to the latest annual opinion poll in Israel, carried out by the EU Neighbours South project.

The survey – part of a wave of opinion polls carried out in eight southern Mediterranean partner countries – was conducted in Israel from June-July 2020, with 1,000 people consulted in face-to-face interviews. Respondents were asked about their general perceptions of the EU and the values with which it is associated, about EU relations with their country, and the impact of EU financial support, including in supporting their country’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. The surveys also look at preferred sources of information, how people feel about their personal situation and the situation in their country, and their expectations for the future.

Asked to describe relations with the EU, 52% said they were good and 34% said they were bad, well below the average of 67% in the Mashrek who felt their country had good relations with the EU (59% in the Maghreb). Fourty-six per cent of those asked felt the EU had a positive influence on the development of Israel (compared to 61% in the region). However, a majority (72%) of those who knew that the EU provided financial support to Israel said it was effective.

Most Israelis felt the EU and Israel had sufficient common values to cooperate (63% – close to the regional average of 65%) and half of them think that the EU is an important partner for Israel (51% agreeing). Only 25% agreed that the EU brought peace and stability to the region, while 63% disagreed.

In more general terms, Israelis were divided between those who had a positive image of the EU (37%), those who had a neutral image (36%), and those with a negative image (23%). The values most frequently associated with the EU were democracy, freedom of speech or media freedom and equality between men and women; those least associated with the EU were honesty and the absence of corruption.

Israelis feel EU support has contributed the most in the areas of tourism (51%), trade (41%) and access to more products and services (32%), and they want the EU to play an even greater role in trade and economic development.

In general, Israelis think that the European Union’s image in their national media is neutral. On television, 34% of them believe that the image is neutral while 32% believe it to be very or fairly positive and 13% to be very or fairly negative. Television is followed by radio (38% neutral, 25% positive, 11% negative) and the printed press (35% neutral, 27% positive, 14% negative).

More than three-quarters of Israelis are satisfied with their lives (82%, compared to an average of 61% for the Mashrek). And they are more positive about the economic situation in their country (38% feel it is good, compared to just 31% in the region).

The EU Neighbours South regional overview report and factsheets are available here.

To find out more about EU – Israel cooperation and partnership, go here.