--- title: "Amid Iran conflict, how do Israelis and Palestinians feel about their safety?" description: "Most Israelis, but few Palestinians, say they have access to a bomb shelter. Israelis are also far more likely than Palestinians to feel the war with Iran will make them safer." date: "2026-06-09" authors: - name: "Laura Silver" job_title: "Associate Director, Global Attitudes Research" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/laura-silver/" - name: "Maria Smerkovich" job_title: "Research Associate" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/maria-smerkovich/" - name: "Julia Armeli" job_title: "Research Assistant" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/julia-armeli/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/06/09/amid-iran-conflict-how-do-israelis-and-palestinians-feel-about-their-safety/" categories: - "War & International Conflict" - "War & International Conflict" --- # Amid Iran conflict, how do Israelis and Palestinians feel about their safety? **About this research** This Pew Research Center report looks at views of the war in Iran among people in the United States, Israel, and the West Bank and East Jerusalem. #### Why did we do this? Pew Research Center does research to help the public, media and decision-makers understand important topics. The war in Iran was timely and topical for the public in all three places, and we wanted to better understand their opinions on the war and its long-term consequences. [Learn more about Pew Research Center](https://www.pewresearch.org/about/) and our [international surveys](https://www.pewresearch.org/international-surveys/). #### How did we do this? For this report, we surveyed 1,001 people in Israel and 1,038 people in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Interviews were conducted from March 30 to May 6, 2026. The report also uses data from three surveys conducted in the United States. The first polled 3,524 U.S. adults from March 16 to 22, 2026. The second polled 3,507 U.S. adults from March 23 to 29. The third was of 5,103 U.S. adults from April 20 to 26. We designed the surveys so we could talk about the views of the adult population in each country. Here are the [survey questions used](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/06/pg_2026.06.09_trilateral_topline.pdf) for this report, along with responses, and the [survey methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/06/09/methodology-trilateral/). Pew Research Center’s latest surveys in Israel, the West Bank and East Jerusalem were conducted amid U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran – as well as Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israel, the West Bank and countries in the Persian Gulf. #### When did the surveys take place? This year, Pew Research Center surveyed in Israel from April 5 to May 6, and in the West Bank and East Jerusalem from March 30 to April 28. Our field period began while hostilities were still ongoing and continued following the declaration of a ceasefire on April 7. Against this backdrop, we asked Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem about their personal safety: whether they have access to a protective shelter, and whether they think the war will make them safer or less safe in the long run. For more on how Israelis and Palestinians think about the war, refer to “[Israelis, Palestinians, Americans See War in Iran Differently](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/06/09/israelis-palestinians-americans-see-war-in-iran-differently/).” ### Who has access to a shelter? Roughly nine-in-ten Israelis report having access to some kind of bomb shelter – typically either a safe room in their home or a public shelter nearby. Only 7% of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem say the same. [![A bar chart showing that Israeli Jews are more likely than Israeli Arabs or Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to have access to shelter](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/06/pg_2026.06.09_trilateral_2_01.png?w=420){.alignright width=280}](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=311978) In Israel, 78% of adults surveyed have access to a private shelter – but Israeli Jews are more likely than Israeli Arabs to have such a shelter in their homes (82% vs. 62%). Israeli Jews are also significantly more likely than Israeli Arabs to report having access to a public shelter near where they live. In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, just 5% of people surveyed say they have access to a private shelter, and 2% say they have access only to a public shelter. An overwhelming majority say they don’t have access to either. Palestinians in East Jerusalem are slightly more likely than those in the West Bank to report having access to a public shelter near where they live (12% vs. 2%). Both groups are about equally unlikely to say they have access to a shelter or safe room inside their home or place of residence. ### The long-term impact of the conflict on personal safety We asked people in Israel and the West Bank and East Jerusalem how they think the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran will affect their personal safety in the long term. [![A bar chart showing that Israelis and Palestinians, Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs see impact of Iran conflict on their safety differently](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/06/pg_2026.06.09_trilateral_2_02.png?w=420){.alignright width=280}](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=311979) #### Views in Israel By nearly five-to-one, more Israelis say the military action against Iran will make them safer (54%) than less safe (12%) in the long run. Around a quarter think it will leave them about as safe as they were before the war, while 10% are not sure how the conflict will affect their personal safety in the long term. Roughly eight-in-ten Israeli Jews who support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition think military action against Iran will make them safer in the long run – a significantly larger share than among Israeli Jews who don’t support Netanyahu’s coalition (45%). Israeli Arabs are even less likely to say the current conflict will make them safer (20%). Having access to a private shelter is related to these feelings of safety, even after controlling for ethnicity, income and other demographic factors. Israelis who have access to a private shelter are more likely than Israelis without one to say military action against Iran will increase their personal safety in the long term (58% vs. 41%). #### Views in the West Bank and East Jerusalem Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have very different views of the long-term impact of the conflict on them personally. Only 5% expect to be safer as a result of U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran, while roughly seven-in-ten expect to be less safe. An additional 10% of Palestinians think they will be about as safe as they were before the war, and 15% are uncertain. (Because so few people in the Palestinian areas report having access to a shelter, we are unable to analyze how attitudes vary based on that access.) --- **Next:** [Appendix: Detailed tables](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/06/09/appendix-detailed-tables-trilateral.md)