Etiquette



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Monday, May 26, 2025

“Amalek,” Genocide, and Israeli Public Opinion: A Disturbing Poll

 

Introduction

As accusations of genocide against Israel intensify at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), a new poll published in Haaretz’s Hebrew edition on May 22, 2025, reveals a chilling reality: widespread support among Jewish Israelis for extreme violence against Palestinians, including exterminationist measures. Conducted by a Penn State University researcher, the poll’s biblical framing—referencing the command to destroy Amalek—echoes rhetoric used by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and cited by South Africa as evidence of genocidal intent. These findings expose not just government policy but a broader societal embrace of policies meeting the definition of ethnic cleansing and genocide, rooted in history but amplified by the trauma of October 7, 2023. For a world grappling with how to respond, this poll demands a reckoning with the beliefs of a society, not just its leaders.

The “Amalek” Poll

The Haaretz poll asked Jewish Israelis about their attitudes toward Palestinians in Gaza and Israel, framing questions around the biblical story of Amalek, where God commands the Israelites to destroy an enemy entirely. The results are staggering:

  • 47% supported the Israeli army “acting as the Israelites did at Jericho”—killing all inhabitants of a conquered city.

  • 82% supported the forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza.

  • 56% supported expelling Palestinian citizens of Israel.

  • Even among secular Jews, often seen as more liberal, 70% backed Gaza expulsion, and 38% supported expelling Palestinian citizens.

This “Amalek” framing is not accidental. Netanyahu’s November 2023 call to troops—“You must remember what Amalek has done to you, says our Holy Bible”—was highlighted by South Africa at the ICJ as evidence of genocidal intent (Mother Jones, Jan. 2024; AP, Jan. 2024).

Historical Continuity and October 7’s Impact

These attitudes are not solely a reaction to the October 7 Hamas attack. A 2016 Pew survey found 48% of Jewish Israelis agreed that “Arabs should be expelled or transferred from Israel,” with majorities among non-secular Jews and a significant minority of secular Jews (Telhami, Brookings, 2016). Polls over the past decade consistently show support for discriminatory or violent policies toward Palestinians, especially during conflicts.

Yet October 7 amplified these sentiments. The attack’s trauma, as journalist Gideon Levy writes, led even Israel’s liberal left to “shut off” their moral compass, justifying horrors in Gaza as vengeance (Haaretz, Mar. 2024). Genocide scholar Omer Bartov notes that latent hatreds, rooted in decades of political Zionism, have become public and normalized, with biblical rhetoric moving from the far-right fringe to the mainstream. The poll reflects this shift: extreme measures—expulsion, denial of aid, even extermination—are now openly endorsed.

Why “Amalek” Matters

The “Amalek” reference is no mere metaphor. In the Hebrew Bible, God commands the Israelites to annihilate Amalek—men, women, children, and animals—as divine justice. By invoking this, Netanyahu and others justify total war on Gaza, with leaders like Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowing to “eliminate everything” (Stack, New York Times, Jan. 2024). South Africa cited these statements at the ICJ as evidence of genocidal intent. That nearly half of Jewish Israelis endorse this logic shows how religious and historical narratives shape not just policy but public opinion, normalizing atrocity in the present.

Implications and Conclusion

The poll challenges the narrative—common in Western media—that only Netanyahu or the far right drive Israel’s extreme policies. Support for atrocities crosses lines of religiosity, age, and political affiliation, revealing a society radicalized, not just a government. As the ICJ and International Criminal Court weigh charges of genocide and crimes against humanity, and as Western governments reassess support for Israel, understanding this public sentiment is critical. The potential silencing of voices discussing these findings, whether through gate-keeping or hasbara, further complicates the path to truth.

This is a wake-up call. The poll reveals the depth of support for policies meeting the definition of ethnic cleansing and genocide, fueled by trauma and religious narrative. Confronting this requires not just condemning leaders but examining the societal beliefs that empower them. Only then can there be hope for justice—or peace.

Sources:

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