From unity to division: Survey reveals how October 7th shattered Israel's dreams 

For years, Israel has been home to a complex and often underreported coexistence between Jewish and Arab citizens. Whether in hospitals, high-tech firms, or construction sites, Israeli Arabs have worked side by side with their Jewish counterparts, contributing to a society that functioned despite its challenges. This was the Israel that most Israelis knew—a place where people from different backgrounds and beliefs managed to find common ground.

However, the October 7th conflict in 2023 shattered this delicate balance. The aftermath of the war has left a significant rift in Israeli society, one that has deeply affected the Arab community in particular. According to the Israel Democracy Institute, just 59% of Israeli Arabs expressed a desire to remain in Israel at the onset of the war, a stark drop from 80% of Jews who felt similarly. While this number rose to 70% by October 2024, the shift marks a dramatic departure from the stability of previous years, especially during the 2021 riots tied to Operation Guardian of the Walls, when 81% of Israeli Arabs still wanted to stay.

Dr. Marian Tehawkho, an expert on Arab society, notes that the departure of Arab academics—a trend that began before the war—has only intensified in its aftermath. The emotional and psychological toll has been severe, with 57% of Arabs feeling pessimistic about Israel's future, compared to just 29% of Jews. Even more concerning, 27% of Arabs fear that their children's future will be worse than their own.

The impact of this growing divide is most evident on university campuses, where Arab students report feeling unsafe and discriminated against. A survey by Kav Mashve revealed that 56% of Arab students felt unsafe returning to campus after the war, with two-thirds citing discrimination from Jewish peers. Friendships between Jewish and Arab students have also been strained, with nearly 40% of Arab students saying these relationships have deteriorated since the conflict began.

The healthcare system, where politics are traditionally set aside in favor of saving lives, has also been affected. Jewish colleagues in medical professions began scrutinizing their Arab counterparts, demanding they condemn Hamas or justify their social media activity. This created a defensive environment where both groups withdrew, further deepening the divide.

Meanwhile, Arab-Israelis are increasingly fearful for their safety. A study by the Bureau for Combating Crime and Violence in Arab Society found that 47% of Arab citizens fear for their lives, as violence within Arab communities continues to rise. Since January, 35 Arab citizens have been murdered, a significant increase from the previous year, with 85% of these cases remaining unsolved.

The toll of these growing tensions goes beyond statistics. For years, despite the backdrop of conflict in Gaza and the West Bank, Arabs and Jews in Israel managed to build a functioning, though imperfect, society. Now, as Arab professionals leave and social fractures deepen, the dream of peaceful coexistence appears more fragile than ever. Each departure lends credence to the notion that the vision of a harmonious Israel—where Jews and Arabs can live and work together—is a naive fantasy. The reality of these divisions is now impossible to ignore.