Middle East Correspondent
An overwhelming majority of Israelis believe Iran emerged stronger from the recent war, according to a major new survey that paints a bleak picture of public confidence in the conflict’s outcome.
The poll found that 92 per cent of respondents believed Iran either “won” the war or came out in a stronger position, despite the Israeli government’s repeated claims that it had dealt a devastating blow to Tehran.
The survey, conducted by the Agam Institute in partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, questioned 3,644 Israelis aged 17 and over between June 17 and June 20.
It also revealed deep pessimism over Israel’s own security, with around 83 per cent saying the country’s long-term security had been weakened by the conflict rather than strengthened.
The findings suggest widespread scepticism that Israel achieved its stated military aims, which included significantly degrading Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities while restoring its regional deterrence.
Nearly 88 per cent of those surveyed said Israel had either failed to achieve its objectives or had only partially succeeded, leaving just a small minority convinced the campaign had fully accomplished its goals.
The poll also delivered a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose handling of the war appears to have failed to convince much of the public.
Around 73 per cent of respondents said they did not believe Netanyahu’s assertions that Israel had eliminated an existential threat or secured a decisive military victory.
More than half also rated his overall management of the conflict as poor or a failure, pointing to significant public dissatisfaction with the government’s wartime leadership.
Perhaps most strikingly, the findings suggest those views extended well beyond Netanyahu’s political opponents.
According to the survey, more than 90 per cent of respondents aligned with the Prime Minister’s wider right-wing bloc also believed Iran had ultimately gained more from the conflict, indicating that doubts over the war’s outcome crossed traditional political divides.
The survey also examined public opinion on the diplomatic agreement reached after the fighting.
Around 63 per cent of respondents said they opposed the subsequent US-Iran agreement, while only a small minority expressed support, reflecting broader unease over both the military campaign and its political aftermath.
Conducted over four days in mid-June, the survey is among the largest Israeli public opinion polls carried out during the immediate aftermath of the conflict.
Taken together, its findings point to a striking reassessment among those surveyed, with most believing Iran emerged strategically stronger, Israel failed to fully achieve its military objectives, national security was weakened, and confidence in the country’s political leadership was significantly eroded.
