The Israeli public supports the continuation of military activity against Iranian entrenchment in Syria even if it means going to war, according to a new study by the Institute for National Security Studies.
The study has been conducted consecutively for 35 years and offers insight into public opinion trends over the years.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
According to the 2019 study, 31% of the Israeli public believes the northern sector, including Lebanon and Syria, poses the greatest threat to national security; 26% of those polled think Iran's nuclear program is the central threat to Israel; while just 14% view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the most serious security problem facing the country.
The public also doesn't consider Hamas in Gaza a primary threat, and only 14% of the public views the terrorist organization as a strategic threat.
The study also reveals that 54% of the Israeli public believes the home front is ready for a war. Meanwhile, 72% of those questioned said they were not preparing for war or were only slightly preparing for it, while just 28% said they were very much readying themselves for war.
Additionally, the study found that 82% of the public agrees with the statement that "Israel can rely only on itself" in a war, while 60% of those questioned believe "The people of Israel are the chosen people."
Half the people questioned said they do not trust the United States to stand by Israel if it is attacked as Saudi Arabia was recently attacked by Iran.
In the study, which was overseen by Dr. Tzipi Israeli, 800 people were questioned in face-to-face interviews. Its complete findings will be presented next week, on January 28, at the 13th Annual INSS International Conference in Tel Aviv, which will be attended by senior officials from Israel and abroad.
