Poll: Israelis Favor Normalization Over Annexation, And What To Know
- Uri Pilichowski
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
In a new public opinion survey presented by the Shield of Abraham, a large majority of Israelis oppose annexation of the West Bank and favor strengthening ties with moderate Arab states.
The poll, released during a conference hosted by the Coalition for Regional Security, indicates that most Israelis are worried that unilateral annexation or an extended military campaign in Gaza could harm regional alliances and weaken Israel’s international standing.
According to the survey, 72 percent of respondents said that preserving the Abraham Accords and expanding relations with moderate Arab countries is a core national interest. Only 13 % disagreed.
Trump’s expansion of the Abraham Accords
The objective of strengthening the scope and composition of the Abraham Accords introduces the prospect of peace and pragmatism beyond the ad hoc intelligence cooperation established, as the Saudi-Israeli alliance, a new security environment in the region. The enlargement of the Abraham Accords, led by US President Donald Trump in his first term, would also serve to distance the Arab and Gulf states from the growing Chinese influence, a fact dreaded by the US. The Abraham Accords represent perhaps the chief Israeli foreign policy objective. The possible inclusion of more Arab countries could strengthen Israel’s business opportunities in the new market and achieve more recognition among Arab countries.
Expansion of the Abraham Accords fosters economic prosperity through trade, technology, and investment partnerships, boosting GDP far beyond territorial gains. It also strengthens regional security by uniting against shared threats like Iran, creating a robust anti-terrorism coalition. They also enhance Israel’s global diplomatic standing, isolating adversaries and attracting international support, while annexation risks prolonged conflict, isolation, and demographic challenges that undermine long-term stability.
Trump on annexation
Michael Fruend, a former deputy communications director under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, argues that maneuvers by key Western countries, such as Canada, Britain, France, and Australia, to recognize a Palestinian state while completely ignoring the lack of a Palestinian willingness to seek peace and, in the process, aim to undermine Israel’s historical rights.
In a recent interview with Trump, Time Magazine asked him, “You told Netanyahu you will not allow him to annex the West Bank. There are still forces in his coalition who are pressing for it. I'm just wondering what, what the consequences are if they move forward?”
President Trump responded: “It won't happen. It won't happen. It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries. And you can't do that now. We've had great Arab support. It won't happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries. It will not happen. Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.”
Israeli Parliament considers annexation
In a recent Knesset (Israeli Parlimament) session at the end of October, some Israeli lawmakers voted to pass, in its preliminary reading, a bill that would apply Israeli sovereignty to all West Bank settlements — as well as another, more limited bill to annex a major city-settlement — despite opposition from Netanyahu and most of his Likud party to announcing such a move at this time.
Saudi Arabia, Arab nations warn against annexation
Saudi Arabia has conveyed a message to Israel that there will be “major implications in all fields” if it annexes any part of the West Bank in response to the wave of countries recognizing a Palestinian state. Annexation could also harm the under-the-radar security and trade relations between the two countries. Annexation risks endangering the Abraham Accords. Annexation could also harm the under-the-radar security and trade relations between the two countries. Annexation risks endangering the Abraham Accords.
The United Arab Emirates has warned Israel that annexing the occupied West Bank would cross a "red line" and undermine the spirit of the Abraham Accords that normalised relations between the two countries. A senior Emirati official, Lana Nusseibeh, said such a move would be the death knell of the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Wrap up
In the coming months, Israeli leaders might have to choose whether to push forward with the annexation of the disputed territories in the West Bank (also known as the biblical names Judea and Samaria for the region widely used in Israel), while trying to sign a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia that will expand the Abraham Accords.
Uri Pilichowski is an author, speaker, and senior educator at institutions around the world.