A new Geocartography Institute survey reveals that 86% of Israelis do not trust Palestinian workers, including 93% of Jewish respondents and 44% of Arab citizens of Israel.
The survey, commissioned by the manpower company "Narcissism," examined attitudes toward employing Palestinians versus bringing in foreign workers for the construction sector.
"Israel Hayom" published today a new survey in which only 7% of Jewish Israelis said they trust Palestinian workers. Among secular Jews, trust stood slightly higher at 9%. The survey, conducted in April 2025, included a representative sample of 500 adults aged 18 and above.
RELIGIOUS DIVIDE ON WORKER TRUST
Support for banning Palestinian workers from the construction sector is especially high among religious groups: 91% of religious and ultra-Orthodox Jews support the government's decision, compared to 'only' 78% of secular Jews.
STRONG SUPPORT FOR FOREIGN LABOR
Amid ongoing security concerns, especially following reports that some Palestinian workers near Gaza collected intelligence for Hamas after October 7, only 3.6% of Israelis said they would trust Palestinian workers in the future.
Instead, 83% of Jewish Israelis support importing foreign labor to replace Palestinians, particularly among those who already lack trust in Palestinian workers (91%). Support for foreign labor is strongest among religious and ultra-Orthodox Jews (79%), followed by traditional Jews (75%) and secular Jews (62%).
REVIVING THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
A majority of respondents (92%) believe that bringing in foreign workers will help revive Israel’s construction industry. Support is highest in central Israel (76%), followed by the Sharon region (71%), Jerusalem (67%), the north (68%), and the south (65%).