Israelis are feeling a stronger connection to their Jewishness than at any point, a new government survey found, but they are also growing more demanding of Jewish communities abroad, with nearly all saying they expect Diaspora Jews to stand with Israel in times of war.

The findings come from the 2026 Diaspora Index, an annual survey published Monday by Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. 57 percent of respondents said they think of themselves as Jewish first and Israeli second, up sharply from 34% who said the same in last year’s survey, and the highest figure recorded since the ministry began tracking the question a decade ago.

87 percent said being Jewish is important to them and that they are proud of their Jewish identity, an increase from the previous two years. 85 percent agreed that Judaism is more than just a religion – that it means belonging to one people with a shared history and shared roots.

But the survey also pointed to a more complicated picture in how Israelis view Jews who live outside Israel. 94 percent said they expect Diaspora Jews to support Israel during wartime, a figure that reflects rising expectations even as ties between Israel and many Western Jewish communities have grown tense in recent years. Israelis also expressed growing concern about intermarriage and assimilation among Diaspora Jews, which they increasingly view as a threat to the future of the Jewish people.

The report was presented to President Isaac Herzog as part of Diaspora Week, a national initiative running through June 6 that aims to strengthen the relationship between Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.

Alongside the survey, the Israeli government approved a package of three new initiatives totaling more than 100 million shekels to invest in Israel-Diaspora relations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)