COVID-19 Doesn’t Dim Israeli Optimism

A poll conducted during the current COVID-19 pandemic indicates that Israelis are more optimistic about the future, making them more optimistic than Americans, Germans, Poles, Italians and Palestinians.

The research was carried out by the Kevoon Global Research Center in late April and early May, which said its findings were based on interviews with 500 respondents in each country surveyed, and, in Israel, 502 Hebrew-speakers and 85 Arabic speakers, for a total of 3,592 respondents. The margin of error was 4.38 percent (and 4.05 percent in Israel).

The research team noted that since polling continued a few days later in Israel and the Palestinian Authority than elsewhere, it may have affected the results.

When asked the question, “In general, are you more optimistic or pessimistic toward the future?” some 71 percent of Israelis said they’re optimistic, while 22 percent said they’re pessimistic.

The next most optimistic country was Poland, where 65 percent of Poles described themselves as optimistic, versus 22 percent pessimistic.

In the U.S., 59 percent told pollsters they were optimistic, versus 21 percent pessimistic.

Among Palestinians 58 percent were optimistic, 24 percent said they’re pessimistic.

57% of Germans said they’re optimistic, 30% said they’re pessimistic.

55% of Italians said they’re optimistic, 35% said they’re pessimistic.