Poll suggests most Israelis support Saudi normalization, back hostage deal that ends Gaza war

Approximately 61% of Israelis are in favor of expanding the Abraham Accords by normalizing the country’s relations with Saudi Arabia, according to a poll that was published on Tuesday on behalf of the Coalition of Regional Security, a political group consisting of more than 100 senior Israelis from academia, the military, politics and business. The group opposes the current Israeli government’s policies. 

The poll is based on interviews with 954 Israeli Jews and Arabs. Support for normalized ties with Saudi Arabia appears to be solid among both Israelis who back and those who oppose the current Netanyahu government. 

Only 4.7 % of the Israeli public opposes diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Around one third of the respondents (33.9%) said they are neutral concerning a potential normalization with Saudi Arabia. The poll was published as U.S. President Donald Trump is visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. 

“It’s my fervent hope, wish and even my dream that Saudi Arabia… will soon be joining the Abraham Accords,” Trump stated, adding that the Saudis would do it when they are ready for normalized ties with the Jewish state. 

The poll also revealed that a solid majority of Israelis (68.9%) support Trump’s plan to secure the release of all remaining Israeli hostages and end the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.

Of those surveyed, 21.5% said they felt neutral about it, while 9.7% of Israelis opposed such an initiative. 

The Coalition for Regional Security called on the Israeli government to seize the opportunity to expand regional ties and secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza. 

“This survey serves as an urgent wake-up call to the Israeli government: enough with political intransigence – get on board the regional train now,” the group said in an official statement. 

“This is the moment to seize the historic opportunity presented by President Trump to reshape the Middle East and strengthen Israel’s security. History will not forgive those who miss the chance to bring regional stability through strategic alliances and courageous partnerships that are forming at this very moment. The Israeli people want this – now the government must say ‘yes’ to President Trump. If we keep hesitating, we will be left behind,” the group warned. 

While there is a wide Israeli consensus that the hostages must be rescued and brought home, many Israelis are simultaneously concerned that an undefeated Hamas would continue to pose a threat against the Jewish state in the future. 

Senior Hamas officials, including Ghazi Hamad, have praised the Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 Israelis and threatened to carry out future Oct. 7-style attacks against Israeli civilians. 

Looking ahead, 53% of the respondents said they believed that long-term Israeli control of Gaza would undermine efforts to normalize ties with Saudi Arabia. Some 12.8% believed that Israeli control over Gaza would not undermine normalization efforts with the Saudis. In addition, 34.3% of the respondents believed that Israeli control of Gaza would neither facilitate nor harm the expansion of the regional Abraham Accords. 

Two-thirds of Israelis (67%) reportedly believe that normalization with Saudi Arabia will strengthen Israel’s security, economy and further weaken the Iranian regime. However, one-third of the respondents said they did not know or did not believe that diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia would have a significant impact on Israel’s security or economy. 

In September 2023, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) told Fox News anchor Bret Baier, “Every day we get closer” to normalized ties with Israel. However, MBS emphasized that diplomatic relations with Jerusalem would require a commitment to the two-state solution. 

Following the Hamas-led massacre and the ongoing war in Gaza, Saudi Arabia chose to suspend diplomatic efforts aimed at normalizing relations with Israel.