The Use of Force: Israeli Public Opinion on Military Options

Abstract

This article analyzes Israeli attitudes toward the use of force over the period from 1988 to 1994. Based on nine public opinion polls of Israel's Jewish population, it explores public trends on three dimensions of force use-conventional war, Intifada, and terrorism-and contributes new data to the theoretical and empirical debate over the stability and rationality of public opinion. Following the presentation of an aggregate analysis of general public attitudes, party affiliation and socioeconomic variables are examined for their relationship to the viewpoints of the respondents. The profiles of those holding extreme views on military force are investigated as well. In general, Israeli attitudes toward the use of force were stable over time, and Israelis were cautious in their support of using force. Indeed, the findings strengthen the claim that public opinion can constrain belligerent leaders, although it can be manipulated to support limited uses of force.