Givat Haviva Survey: Trust in Police, Minister of National Security

Givat Haviva Partnership Index: Trust in Police, Minister of National Security

January 6, 2026 – Givat Haviva -- As part of the annual Givat Haviva Partnership Index, the public's level of trust in the Israel Police, satisfaction with the Minister of National Security’s performance, and sense of personal security were examined. The findings indicate low confidence in the authority entrusted with public security and the minister responsible for it.

"The data reflects a dangerous process of disintegration of public trust in the entities that are supposed to provide security, and a serious harm to the sense of personal security,” said Givat Haviva CEO Michal Sella. “This is not a systemic failure, but rather deliberate policy. It is clear to everyone that Arab society and activists who oppose government policy suffer more at the hands of the police. In order to restore public trust, a professional and egalitarian policy is needed, and the minister and the police must take full responsibility." 

The findings:

The data shows that 76% of the Arab public believe that Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir performance is poor, as do 60% of the Jewish public. When broken down by political camp (Jews only), all those interviewed on the left believe that his performance is poor, 75% in the center, and 41% on the right.  

42% of the Jewish public described Minister Ben-Gvir's performance as very bad and 18% as quite bad, compared to 20% who responded that his performance was quite good and 11% who assessed it as very good.

In Arab society, the picture is even sharper: 71% defined his performance as very bad and 5% as bad, while only 3% responded that his performance was very good and 8% as good.

A deep crisis of public trust in the Israel Police: Over half of the Jewish public, 52%, does not trust the police, while in Arab society the figure reaches 68%.

Among the Jewish population, only 4% responded that they have a great deal of trust in the police and 41% that they have some trust, compared to 36% who do not have much trust and 17% who do not have any trust. When broken down by political camp, two-thirds (66%) of left-wing voters do not trust the police, over half (54%) of center-right voters do not trust them, and right-wing voters are split – 48% do not trust them compared to the same percentage who do.

In Arab society, only 7% have a great deal of trust in the police and 17% have some trust, while 26% do not have much trust and 42% do not have any trust at all.

Among Jews who trust the police, the share of young people is particularly notable: 65% of those aged 18-24 express trust.

Personal security: 59% of the Jewish public report that their sense of personal security has changed for the worse in the past year, about a third indicate that there has been no change, and only 5% respond that there has been a positive change.

Similarly, among the Arab public, 56% indicate that their sense of personal security has changed for the worse in the past year, about a quarter (26%) say that there has been no change, and only 5% claim that there has been a positive change.