Pew Poll: Israelis and Palestinians Agree Two-State Solution Is Dead
A new Pew Research Center survey delivers a sobering reality check: a solid majority of Israelis and Palestinians no longer believe that a two-state solution can bring peaceful coexistence. Only 17% of Israelis and 21% of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem still see a path to peace, while 56% of Israelis and 68% of Palestinians say it is impossible. These numbers mark a historic low in over a decade of Pew polling on the issue.
The survey, conducted between late March and early May 2026, coincided with the Iran war and its initial ceasefire, adding a layer of urgency to the findings. For the first time, more than half of Israeli respondents explicitly stated that coexistence is unattainable. Among Jewish Israelis, the pessimism is even sharper: 64% say a two-state solution is impossible, while only 16% hold out hope. Among Arab Israelis, 23% believe coexistence is possible, 26% do not, and nearly half declined to answer or were unsure.
Why Do Israelis and Palestinians See No Path to Peace?
Pew researchers probed the reasons behind this widespread disillusionment, and the answers are rooted in land, security, and deep-seated distrust.
For many Israelis, security concerns dominate. A 43-year-old Jewish Israeli man told Pew he is unwilling to risk a Palestinian state that could arm itself and threaten his home. Another, a 57-year-old, put it bluntly: “They don’t want to live next to us, but in our place.” The trauma of the October 7 Hamas attack looms large. A 36-year-old Jewish Israeli man said, “Since what happened on Oct. 7, I have lost all faith in the Palestinian people and in the two-state solution for both peoples.”
Palestinians, for their part, point to Israeli control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, settlements, and checkpoints as insurmountable obstacles. A 19-year-old Palestinian woman described daily life: “It is an occupied country, there is no security, movement between cities is difficult, and there are checkpoints.” The war’s toll also fuels their pessimism. A 31-year-old Palestinian woman said, “They took our land and killed the people, and that’s enough. My brother was killed.”
Who Still Believes in Coexistence?
Despite the overwhelming negativity, a small but vocal minority on both sides still sees a reason to hope. Their optimism often stems from a pragmatic belief that coexistence is inevitable, or from a desire for peace for future generations.
A 57-year-old Jewish Israeli man said, “Neither side is going from here. It is necessary to learn to live together.” A 29-year-old Jewish Israeli man echoed that sentiment: “We need to find the path to peace for the sake of our children and their children.” On the Palestinian side, a 43-year-old man said, “We have no choice but to coexist and find another solution.” Some Palestinians also highlighted economic interdependence, with an 18-year-old woman noting, “We complement each other in work, trade and security, so that we may live together.”
Yet even among optimists, the path forward is conditional. Israelis call for greater moderation on both sides, while Palestinians and Arab Israelis insist on Israeli withdrawal from territory, reduced settlement activity, and fewer movement restrictions.
What Does This Mean for Israel’s Future?
For Zion Pulse, this poll is not a cause for despair but a call to clarity. The Jewish people have faced existential challenges before, from the destruction of the Temples to the rebirth of our state in 1948. We have learned that our survival depends on strength, unity, and unwavering faith in our biblical and historical rights to this land.
As the prophet Isaiah declared, “For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3). Jerusalem is not a bargaining chip; it is the eternal capital of the Jewish people. The international community’s obsession with a two-state solution ignores the reality on the ground: Palestinians have rejected every offer of statehood, from 1947 to 2000 to 2008, preferring conflict over coexistence.
Israel’s resilience, however, is our greatest asset. Our high-tech innovation, our democratic values, and our brave soldiers ensure that we not only survive but thrive. This poll should strengthen our resolve to secure our borders, support our army, and continue building a prosperous Jewish state. We remain open to peace with those who truly seek it, but we will never compromise on our security or our heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Pew poll find about Israeli and Palestinian views on a two-state solution?
The poll found that 56% of Israelis and 68% of Palestinians believe peaceful coexistence between Israel and an independent Palestinian state is impossible. Only 17% of Israelis and 21% of Palestinians still believe it is possible.
When was the Pew survey conducted?
Israeli interviews were conducted from April 5 to May 6, 2026, and Palestinian interviews from March 30 to April 28, 2026, in Hebrew and Arabic. The fieldwork overlapped with the Iran war and its initial ceasefire on April 7.
Why do so many Israelis and Palestinians reject a two-state solution?
Key reasons include disputes over land, security concerns, distrust of the other side, and the impact of recent violence, including the October 7 Hamas attack and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Did the poll include Gaza?
No, Pew was unable to conduct fieldwork in Gaza, so the Palestinian sample was limited to the West Bank and East Jerusalem.