Nearly half of British people favor reducing or ending immigration from Israel, survey finds
47% support fewer or no Israeli migrants entering the UK, up from 39% in 2016, with opposition particularly high among Reform UK and Green voters
Nearly half of British people want immigration from Israel to the United Kingdom to be reduced or stopped entirely, according to a new YouGov survey examining changes in public attitudes toward immigration between 2016 and 2026.
The survey found that 47% of respondents favor restricting immigration from Israel, with 23% saying they would like to see fewer Israelis admitted to the UK and 24% saying they would prefer no immigration from Israel at all.
Israel ranks among the nationalities facing the highest levels of opposition to increased immigration. Russia tops the list, with 58% of respondents favoring a reduction or complete halt, followed by Pakistan at 52%, Nigeria at 48%, and Israel at 47%. Egypt and India each recorded 44%, while Turkey stood at 43%.
Attitudes toward Israeli immigration have also become more restrictive over the past decade. In 2016, 39% of Britons said they wanted to reduce or stop immigration from Israel, eight percentage points lower than the current figure.
The survey reveals a notable divide between voters who supported and opposed Brexit. Among those who voted to remain in the European Union, the proportion favoring reduced or zero immigration from Israel increased from 27% in 2016 to 41% in 2026. Among Leave voters, the figure remained unchanged at 52%.
YouGov notes that Remain and Leave voters have generally moved in similar directions in their views on immigration from the nationalities examined. Israel, however, is a notable exception: attitudes among Remain voters have become significantly more negative, while views among Leave voters have remained largely unchanged.
At the same time, Leave voters have become more favorable toward immigration from several other countries, including Poland, France, Germany, and Japan.
Attitudes also vary by voting preference in the 2024 UK general election. Opposition to Israeli immigration is highest among Reform UK and Green Party voters, at roughly 52% to 53%. Labour and Conservative voters fall in the mid-to-high 40% range, while Liberal Democrat voters show the lowest level of opposition, at around 41%.
The findings point to a significant shift in British public opinion toward immigration from Israel over the past decade, particularly among voters who supported remaining in the European Union.