Majority of Israelis and Palestinians Believe Peaceful Coexistence is Impossible, Pew Poll Finds

A two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires the populations of both territories to believe they can live alongside one another. According to a new survey from the Pew Research Center, that baseline condition is now rejected by the majority of both groups. Just 17% of Israelis and 21% of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem say peaceful coexistence is possible, while 56% and 68%, respectively, say it is not.[1][2]

The polling, conducted in the spring of 2026 during the Iran war and nearly three years into the Israel-Hamas conflict, marks a low point in more than a decade of Pew tracking. For the first time since the center began asking the question in 2013, more than half of Israeli respondents explicitly stated that a two-state solution cannot work. The share of Israelis who believe coexistence is possible had already fallen to its lowest level in 2025 and remained roughly unchanged this year.[1][2]

Within Israel, views diverge sharply along demographic lines. Among Jewish Israelis, 64% say a two-state solution is impossible, while 16% believe it can be achieved. Arab Israelis presented a high non-response rate, with 46% declining to answer the question; of those who did, 23% said coexistence is possible and 26% said it is not. Across all Israeli respondents, 20% did not answer the question, double the share that opted out in 2025.[2][4]

In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, pessimism is similarly entrenched. The 68% of Palestinians who reject the possibility of coexistence cite fundamental incompatibilities, ongoing violence, and disputes over land that they believe cannot be divided. Pew researchers surveyed 1,038 Palestinians in these areas between March 30 and April 28, 2026, but noted they were unable to survey residents of Gaza due to ongoing security conditions.[1][2]

When asked to explain their reasoning in their own words, respondents on both sides who view peace as impossible pointed to deep-seated distrust and the belief that the two populations are eternal enemies. Many cited the historical and recent violence as proof that their differences are too great to overcome. People on both sides agree that they are fighting over the same land and hold competing belief systems.[1][4]

Among the small minority who still see a path forward, respondents frequently framed peace as an eventual necessity rather than an immediate likelihood. "Neither side is going from here. It is necessary to learn to live together," a 57-year-old Jewish Israeli man told researchers. A 43-year-old Palestinian man expressed a similar sentiment, stating, "We have no choice but to coexist and find another solution."[2]

Others in the minority camp argued that an agreement would require significant concessions and a restoration of confidence. Some Israeli respondents stated that Palestinians must accept Israel's right to exist and abandon claims to all the land. Conversely, Palestinian respondents and some Arab Israelis emphasized the need for Israel to halt settlement construction, end rights violations, and withdraw from the West Bank.[4]

Beyond the political deadlock, the survey highlighted severe daily challenges for Palestinians that complicate any immediate diplomatic progress. Nearly all respondents in the West Bank and East Jerusalem—92%—identified Israeli checkpoints as a major problem for their families. High unemployment, crime, and the quality of education were also cited by large majorities as critical issues, with 85% pointing to a lack of job opportunities.[1]

The pessimism surrounding the conflict is mirrored by shifting attitudes abroad. A separate Pew survey conducted in May found that only 18% of Americans aged 18 to 29 hold a favorable view of the Israeli government, compared to 47% among those 65 and older. These international demographic shifts add another layer of complexity to any future diplomatic efforts, which will face local populations that have largely abandoned the premise of the negotiations. With trust at historic lows, the immediate focus for many respondents remains on ending the current violence rather than envisioning a long-term political settlement.[1][3][6]