A survey was conducted by the Direct Polls Institute for The Israeli Immigration Policy Center (IIPC) – a conservative Israeli nonprofit organization. The poll found that about 67% of Israelis oppose granting status to Ukrainian refugees.
In addition, there is a clear majority of 69% who believe that a firm quota should be set for the number of refugees to be absorbed in Israel, while a quarter of the public believe that all should be absorbed.
However, the Israeli public is divided about the absorption of refugees, including in Israel: 49% are in favor compared to 47% who oppose their absorption in Israel.
Read more about the Russia-Ukraine War:
- Day 14 war updates
- Russia says it will no longer participate in Council of Europe
- UK imposes sanctions against Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich
- Ukraine opens website to submit Russia war crime allegations
- Poll: Most Israelis support imposing quotas on the absorption of refugees from Ukraine
Despite the public's willingness to invest in humanitarian measures for Ukrainian refugees, their absorption in Israel is the least preferred step - only 6% of Israelis support it, while 56% of Israelis believe that field hospitals and the transfer of humanitarian equipment to areas outside of Ukraine should be preferred and 35% prefer that Israel assist Jews in Ukraine.
When asked about making the entry of refugees from the war in Ukraine into Israel conditional on eligibility for the Law of Return, the public is Israeli public quite divided: 49% support the stipulation of the Law of Return, compared with 46% who believe that such eligibility should not be checked.
In contrast, there is a small majority (50%) who believe that the fact that Ukrainian refugees are eligible for asylum on European soil should lead to a hardening of the decision-makers’ positions regarding the crisis, compared to 44% who believe that the country should open its gates to all Ukrainians seeking asylum.
The poll was conducted by Shlomo Filber and Tzuriel Sharon of Direct Polls LTD for IIPC on March 8, 2022, among 615 adults.
The IIPC stated: “The Israeli public is mobilized to assist in the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, including the absorption of refugees – in the countries of origin – and not through the absorption of refugees in the country. The new outline, which includes rigid quotas for the absorption of refugees, enjoys broad public support. Public representatives and decision-makers must act in this complex humanitarian reality.”