78% of Britons view Israel as serious threat to world peace

A growing majority of Britons regard Israel as a serious threat to world peace, with 78% expressing this view, up from 48% in 2005, according to a new survey published by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen).

The findings, included in NatCen’s British Social Attitudes report titled “A More Dangerous World: British Attitudes to Security, Defense and International Alliances,” place Israel ahead of Iran and the United States in public perceptions of threats to global peace.

According to the survey, 75% of respondents consider Iran a serious threat, while 74% hold the same view of the United States.

Gaza war contributed to changing perceptions

The report said Israel’s international reputation had been affected by its involvement in recent conflicts in the Middle East, particularly the war in Gaza.

The proportion of Britons viewing Israel as a serious threat rose to 73% by autumn 2024, following extensive destruction in Gaza during Israel’s military campaign launched after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.

The figure subsequently fell to around two-thirds in 2025 before climbing to 78% in a spring 2026 survey, conducted after the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran.

Differences across political groups

The survey also revealed differences in perceptions across political affiliations.

Green Party supporters were the most likely to regard Israel as a serious threat, at 88%, followed by Labour supporters at 84%.

The figures stood at 79% among Liberal Democrat supporters, 70% among Conservatives and 62% among Reform UK supporters.

The findings highlight a substantial shift in British public perceptions of Israel over the past two decades, against the backdrop of escalating conflicts and changing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Source:AA