The study investigates attitudes toward various issues on the national agenda such as Israeli-Palestinian relations, socio-economic policy, relations between state and religion; gender and ethnicity issues; evaluation of parties, candidates, and coalitions; values, vote intention and past vote; efficacy, political knowledge and participation. The study employs a panel design. The pre-election survey was conducted between October 18 and October 31, 2022, prior to the November 1, 2022 Knesset election. The post-election survey was carried out between November 9-30, 2022. Tel Aviv University's B. I. and Lucille Cohen Institute for Public Opinion Research carried out the fieldwork
Eligible voters in Israel
The 2022 study was fielded exclusively online using the Cohen Institute's recently established online probability panel - a first for the INES (until then INES used phone interviews). This online panel is based on a probabilistic sample from the Ministry of the Interior's database, where panel respondents are randomly recruited through a dedicated telephone survey, in addition to recruitment by mail, on an ongoing basis. In order to increase the number of Arabs respondents in the sample, telephone interviews were added to the online sample among Arab-speaking respondents Summary of 2022 INES Data Characteristics:
In 2019-2021, Israel went to the polls four times: on April 9, 2019, to elect the 21st Knesset, on September 17, to elect the 22nd Knesset, on March 2, 2020, to elect the 23rd Knesset, and on March 23, 2021 to elect the 24th Knesset. Following the April 2019 election, the incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the head of the Likud party, obtained the mandate to form a government, but failed to do so. He did not return the mandate to the President, and the Knesset voted to dissolve itself and lead to a new election, which was held on September 17. Following the September 2019 election, the interim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again obtained the mandate to form a government, but failed to do so, again. He returned the mandate to the President, who then passed the mandate to form a government to Benny Gantz, the head of the Kahol-Lavan alliance, who also failed to form a coalition. This in turn, initiated a 21-day period in which a majority of the Knesset members could ask the President to cast the formation of the government on any Knesset member who would agree to try and form a coalition. However, such a majority was not obtained, and the Knesset voted to dissolve itself and lead to yet another election, which was held on March 2, 2020. Following the March 2020 election, a rotation government was formed between Likud and parts of the Blue and White alliance. Netanyahu headed the government, and Benny Gantz served as an Alternate Prime Minister who was supposed to switch positions with Netanyahu after 18 months. The representatives of the two blocs (Right-religious and Center-left) won equal veto power. This government was sworn in on May 17, 2020, but following the failure to pass the state budget, another election was announced, fourth in number within two years. It was held on March 23, 2021. The study investigates voting behavior; evaluations of parties, candidates, coalitions, and the events that lead to the second, third and fourth elections; perceptions of representation and democracy; efficacy, political knowledge, media consumption; and attitudes on various issues on the national agenda in these four consecutive elections. April and September 2019 Elections The study employs a four-wave panel design for the April and September 2019 elections: 1. April 2019 - pre-election survey (first wave) - was conducted in the six weeks leading to the April election between February 24 and April 8, 2019. It was carried out in four sub-samples, each consisting of an independent representative sample of the electorate.2. April 2019 - post-election survey (second wave) - was in the field immediately after the April election, between April 11 and April 18, 2019.3. September 2019 - pre-election survey (third wave) - was conducted in the two weeks before the September 17 election, between September 1-16, 20194. September 2019 - post-election survey (fourth wave) - returned to the respondents between September 19 and October 7, 2019. It uses a stratified sample of Jews and Arabs: The Jewish sample is a random sample of individuals based on the Ministry of Interior's listing of the population, to which mobile and fixed-line telephone numbers were matched. The Arab sample is a random sample of households stratified by district and within district by religion (Muslim, Christian, Druze). It includes six district stratums out of the seven districts defined by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics: Jerusalem, North, Haifa, Center, Tel Aviv, and South (excluding the Judea and Samaria district). Tel Aviv University's B. I. and Lucille Cohen Institute for Public Opinion Research carried out the fieldwork using Hebrew and Arabic telephone interviews. March 2020 Election The March 2020 study employs a two-wave panel design. 1. Pre-election survey - The first wave was conducted in the five weeks leading to the March election between January 29 and March 1, 2020.2. Post-election survey - The second wave was in the field immediately after the March election, between March 4-15, 2020. Tel Aviv University's B. I. and Lucille Cohen Institute for Public Opinion Research carried out the fieldwork among Israeli Jews using Hebrew and Russian telephone interviews, and among Arabs using Arabic telephone interviews. The sample used by B. I. and Lucille Cohen Institute for Public Opinion Research is the same as described above for the 2019 elections. Given the time and timing constraints of the pre-election survey, which resulted in a small number of Arab interviewees, we commissioned the Statnet Research Institute, which specializes in polling the Arab sector, to interview a sample of Israeli Arabs to complement the data collected by the Cohen Institute based on the same questionnaires, survey rules and procedures. Statnet's sample is a random sample of individual cellular phones, similarly stratified by district and within district by religion (Muslim, Christian, Druze).
Summary of INES Data Characteristics, 2019-2020 Elections:
The survey was carried out in four sub-samples, each consisting of an independent representative sample of the electorate. The first sub-sample was interviewed between February 24 and March 5, 2019 (N=394); the second between March 6-17 (N=407); the third between March 18-29 (N=403); and the fourth between March 31 and April 8 (N=410).
1
Summary of 2021 INES Data Characteristics by data collection mode:
Co-Investigators
April and September 2019 Elections
March 2020 Election
March 2021 Election
The study investigates attitudes toward various issues on the national agenda such as Israeli-Palestinian relations, socio-economic policy, relations between state and religion; gender and ethnicity issues; evaluation of parties, candidates, and coalitions; values, vote intention and past vote; efficacy, political knowledge and participation. The study employs a panel design. The pre-election survey was conducted between February 15 and March 16, 2015, prior to the March 17, 2015 Knesset election. The post-election survey was carried out between March 23 and April 20, 2015. Tel Aviv University's B. I. and Lucille Cohen Institute for Public Opinion Research carried out the fieldwork using Hebrew, Russian, and Arabic telephone interviews
A stratified sample of Jews and Arabs: The Jewish sample is a random sample of individuals from the Ministry of Interior's Listing of the population, to which mobile and fixed-line telephone numbers were matched. The Arab sample is stratified by geographical areas with random sampling within each stratum. N=1,595 respondents (1,330 Jews, 265 Arabs). The pre-election survey was carried out in three waves, where each wave consisted of an independent representative sample of the electorate. The first wave was interviewed between February 15-27, 2015 (N=427); the second between February 24 and March 8, 2015 (N=560); and the third between March 8-16 (N=608). The post-election panel wave returned to 1,257 respondents (1,090 Jews, 167 Arabs)
The study investigates attitudes toward various issues on the national agenda such as the peace process, socio-economic policy, relations between state and religion; gender issues; evaluation of parties, candidates, and coalitions; values, vote intention and past vote; efficacy, political knowledge and participation. The study employs a panel design. The pre-election survey was conducted between December 23, 2012 and January 21, 2013, prior to the January 22, 2013 Knesset election. The postelection survey was carried out between January 28 and February 17, 2013. Tel Aviv University's B. I. and Lucille Cohen Institute for Public Opinion Research carried out the fieldwork using Hebrew, Russian, and Arabic telephone interviews
A stratified sample of Jews and Arabs: The Jewish sample is a random sample of individuals from the Ministry of Interior's Listing of the population, to which mobile and fixed-line telephone numbers were matched. The Arab sample is stratified by geographical areas with random sampling within each stratum. N=1,718 respondents (1,457 Jews, 261 Arabs). The pre-election survey was carried out in four waves, where each wave consisted of an independent representative sample of the electorate. The first wave was interviewed between December 23-28 (N=288); the second between December 30, 2012 and January 3, 2013 (N=400); the third between January 6-11 (N=468), and the fourth wave between January 13-21(N=562). The post-election panel wave returned to 1,292 respondents (1,187 Jews, 105 Arabs)
The study investigated attitudes towards various issues on the national agenda such as the peace process, socio-economic policy, state-religion relations; the military operation in Gaza; evaluation of parties, candidates, and coalitions; vote intention and past electoral behavior. The study employed a panel design. The pre-election survey was conducted between January 18 and February 5, 2009, prior to the February 10 Knesset elections. The post-election survey was carried out between February 11-24, 2009. Tel Aviv University's B. I. and Lucille Cohen Institute for Public Opinion Research carried out the fieldwork using Hebrew, Russian, and Arabic telephone interviews
A stratified sample of Jews and Arabs: The Jewish sample is a random sample of individuals from the Ministry of Interior's Listing of the population, to which mobile and fixed-line telephone numbers were fitted. The Arab sample is stratified by geographical areas with random sampling within each strata. N=1,210 respondents (1,037 Jews, 173 Arabs). The sample was divided in the pre-election survey into three weekly waves, where each wave consists of an independent representative sample of the electorate. The first wave was interviewed between January 18 and 25 (N=386); the second wave, between January 25-29 (N=411), and the third wave between February 1-5, 2009. The post-election second panel wave returned to 878 respondents
The study investigated attitudes towards various issues on the national agenda such as the peace process, the recently carried out disengagement, socio-economic policy, and state-religion relations; evaluation of parties, candidates, and coalitions; vote intention and past electoral behavior. The study employed a panel design. The pre-election survey was conducted between February 28 and March 23, 2006, prior to the March 28 Knesset elections. The post-election survey was carried out between March 30 and April 23, 2006. Mahshov Research Institute carried out the fieldwork using Hebrew, Russian, and Arabic telephone interviews
A stratified sample of Jews and Arabs by geographical areas, and random sampling within each strata. Special attention was given to the ultra-orthodox and immigrants from the former Soviet Union, so that they be proportionally represented in the sample, if needed by quota methods. N=1,919 respondents (1,630 Jews, 289 Arabs). The sample was divided in the pre-election survey between two waves, where each wave consists of an independent representative sample of the electorate. The first wave was interviewed between February 28 and March 14 (N=957), and the second wave, between March 13-23 (N=962). The post-election second panel wave returned to 1,411 respondents
The study investigated attitudes towards various issues on the national agenda such as the peace process and state-religion relations, evaluation of parties, candidates, coalitions, vote intention and past electoral behavior. The study was conducted January 12-24, 2003, prior to the elections for the 16th Knesset, held on January 28. Mahshov Research Institute carried out the fieldwork using Hebrew, Russian and Arabic telephone interviews
A stratified sample of Jews and Arabs by geographical areas, and random sampling within each strata. Special attention was given to the ultra-orthodox and immigrants from the former Soviet Union, so that they be proportionally represented in the sample, if needed by quota methods. N=1,234 (1,083 Jews and 151 Arabs). The sample was divided between two waves, where each wave consists of an independent representative sample of the electorate. The first wave was interviewed between January 12 and 17 (N=618), and the second wave, between January 19 and 24 (N=616)
The 2001 election was a special election for the prime minister only, held on February 6, 2001. The study investigated attitudes towards the peace process, state and religion, evaluation of parties and candidates, exposure to media and election surveys, vote intention and past electoral behavior. Jewish respondents were interviewed in Hebrew or Russian while Arab respondents were interviewed in Arabic. The fieldwork was carried out through telephone interviews between January 7 and February 4 by Mahshov Research Institute
A stratified sample of Jews and Arabs by geographical areas, and random sampling within each strata. Special attention was given to the ultra-orthodox and immigrants from the former Soviet Union, so that they be proportionally represented in the sample, if needed by quota methods. In each of the four weeks between January 7 and February 4, 2001, a random sample of voters in each strata was interviewed. N=1,417 of which 1,249 Jews and 168 Arabs
This election study was conducted as a two-wave panel. The first phase was carried out in face-to-face interviews between April 4 and May 14, 1999. The second phase consisted of telephone interviews carried out between May 21-27, right after the election day (May 17). The study investigated attitudes towards the peace process, state and religion, democracy, evaluation of parties and candidates, and electoral behavior. The field work was carried out by Mahshov Research Institute. Jewish voters were interviewed in Hebrew, and Arab voters in Arabic
A proportional stratified sample of the population (N=1,075 Jews and 150 Arabs) with locality type strata and locality clusters; first phase: N=1, 225; post-election phase: N=535
This election study was carried out in one phase, between May 1-27, 1996, before the elections to the 14th Knesset and to the Prime Minister on May 29. The study investigated attitudes towards the peace process, state and religion, the new direct election method of the Prime-Minister; evaluation of parties and candidates; influence of party propaganda and electoral behavior. The field work was carried out by the Modiin Ezrahi Research Institute through face to face interviews. Jewish voters were interviewed in Hebrew, Arab voters - in Arabic
Adult population in Israel (18+), not including Kibbutzim and localities beyond the 1967 Green Line; eligible voters
A non-proportional stratified sample of the population (N=1,168 Jews, 503 Arabs) with locality type strata and locality clusters. The two sub-samples are provided in two separate files.
This election study was carried out between June 8 and 18, 1992, a few days before the elections to the 13th Knesset, held on June 23. The study investigated attitudes towards security, economy, state and religion and social issues, evaluation of parties and candidates, political trends and electoral behavior. The field work was carried out by the Dahaf Research Institute through face to face interviews
Adult Jewish population (18+), not including kibbutzim and localities beyond the 1967 Green Line; eligible voters
N=1,192. Sampling consisted of locality type strata, locality clusters, simple random sampling of streets, Kish sampling within households
The 1988 survey was conducted October 2-30 by Dahaf Research Institute through face to face interviews. The election was held on November 1, 1988. The survey investigated attitudes towards national agenda issues, evaluation of parties and candidates, political trends and electoral behavior of the subjects and their families. The election survey was planned as a second panel phase of a previous survey done in December, 1987 (N=1,116). These data were collected between December 9, 1987 (the day on which the Intifada began) and January 4, 1988, some 10 months before the elections. 416 respondents were reinterviewed in October 1988, and make up the 1987-88 panel survey. This sample was augmented to a full blown election survey of 873 respondents. We provide both data sets
Sampling consisted of locality type strata, locality clusters, simple random sampling of streets, Kish sampling within households
The 1984 survey was conducted between July 8 and 12 by Dahaf Research Institute through face to face interviews. It included voter opinions on peace and security, democracy, economy, party evaluations, personal reactions to various political and social groups. The elections were held on July 23, 1984
1,259 respondents. Sampling consisted of locality type strata, locality clusters, simple random sampling of streets, Kish sampling within households
The 1981 study was carried out in three stages: the first stage from March 18-25, the second stage from April 26 - May 4, and the third stage between May 27 and June 6. The elections were held on June 30th.The topics surveyed in the 1981 study include voter opinions concerning peace and security, democracy, economy, and party stands, a voter model for the ideal political party and reasons for voter apathy, and the extent voters can influence political decisions. Party preference and personal evaluation of the nation's political leaders are also included. The fieldwork for the March and June surveys was carried out by the Dahaf Research Institute. The fieldwork for the April survey was carried out by the Institute for Applied Social Research. All were face to face interviews
1,249 respondents in March 1981, 1,088 respondents in April 1981, and 1,237 respondents in June 1981. Sampling consisted of locality type strata, locality clusters, simple random sampling of streets, Kish sampling within households
The 1977 Election Study was comprised of four surveys. The first three surveys (March, April and May) were carried out before the May 17 elections, and a post-election survey was carried out in June 1977. The surveys examine voter stands on different parties and on national issues, such as security, peace, the electoral system, corruption and Israel's economy. The pre-election surveys explore voter evaluations of the different party platforms and the parties' election chances, vote choice past and present, vote of family and friends, political interest and political efficacy; the post-election survey examines voter reactions to the Likud's election and information concerning voters' party choice. The data were collected in March 3-9; April 12-14; May 4-5; and in June 28-30 1977. The fieldwork for the surveys was carried out by the Guttman Institute for Applied Social Research in face to face interviews.
Urban adult Jewish population in Israel (age 20+), eligible voters (Greater Tel Aviv ,Haifa, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva).
1,372 respondents in March 1977, 497 respondents in April 1977, 485 in May 1977, and 465 in June 1977. Samples drawn from Ministry of Interior's eligible voters' list.
The 1973 election surveys were carried out in 5 stages: the first two surveys (May and September) before the Yom Kippur War, which broke out on October 6, and the remaining 3 surveys (November 1973, December 1973 and January 1974) after the war. Due to the war, the elections were postponed and held on December 31, 1973. The September survey was carried out as a second-wave panel of the May sample. The other surveys interviewed separate groups of voters. The subjects covered include interviewee opinions on national issues and government figures, involvement in politics and reasons for voting for different parties. The post-war surveys include questions about the influence the war had on the voters' political views and whether the war will change their voting intentions. The January 1974 survey was conducted after the elections. The fieldwork for the surveys was carried out by the Guttman Institute for Applied Social Research in face to face interviews. The first survey was in the field in May ; the second survey, in September; the third survey in November 18-19; the fourth survey in December 19-20; and the fifth survey between January 13 and 15.
Urban adult Jewish population in Israel (age 20+), eligible voters (Greater Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem).
1,917 respondents in May 1973, 548 in September 1973, 642 in November 1973, 530 in December 1973 and 1,066 respondents in January 1974. Systematic sampling drawn from a list of Jewish households prepared by the Ministry of Communications for the zipcode project.
The 1969 Election Study was carried out in 3 phases: Phase 1 in August, Phase 2 in September - October, and Phase 3 before and after the October 28 elections (between October 14 and November 28, 1969). It detailed respondents' demographic and personal data, vote choice in national, local and Histadrut elections, vote of family and friends, participation in electoral campaign, media exposure and the influence of political advertisements, interest in politics, political efficacy, opinions on Arab-Israeli conflict, economy, state and religion and social tensions. The fieldwork for the surveys was carried out by the Guttman Institute for Applied Social Research through face to face interviews.
Urban (Greater Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva) adult (age 20+) Jewish population in Israel, eligible voters.
380 respondents in August 1969, 1,315 respondents in September 1969, 1,825 respondents in October-November 1969. The samples were simple random samples drawn from the Ministry of Interior's eligible voters' list.
