Integrated Net Assessment – JPPI’s Six Dimensions of Jewish Well-Being

Geopolitics

The 2024-2025 period was among the most challenging in Israel’s history in terms of security and diplomacy. The heavy shadow of October 7 continues to define reality, with the war in Gaza dragging on and no clear political endgame in sight. The hostage crisis, high casualty toll, and the burden on a relatively small segment of the population have eroded public morale. Internationally, Israel’s standing has shifted from early sympathy to harsh criticism and accusations of human rights violations, fueled by the scale of destruction and the absence of a convincing political narrative. Controversial government measures and far-right rhetoric have deepened diplomatic isolation, while moves toward international recognition of a Palestinian state threaten to weaken Israel in global forums. The United States remains Israel’s most reliable ally, yet even this support shows signs of fragility. Antisemitism in the West has risen sharply, and the gap between military strength and diplomatic weakness is widening. Despite a historic opportunity to reshape the Middle East, Israel continues to operate without a coherent geopolitical vision.

In light of the mixed situation – improved overall security but stagnation in Gaza and diminished diplomatic standing – the gauge remains unchanged this year.

Identity

The October 7 attack and the ensuing war have strengthened ties between Israel and the organized Jewish mainstream in the Diaspora, reflected in record fundraising, volunteering, and public expressions of solidarity. At the same time, alienation among progressive and younger Jews has deepened, with some embracing increasingly critical or openly anti-Zionist positions. In Israel, the trauma has diminished the “New Jew” self-image and increased identification with Diaspora communities, but it has also revealed tensions between Israel’s majority status and the Diaspora’s minority experience – tensions amplified by far-right political alliances and inflammatory rhetoric from ministers. The result has been a simultaneous amplification of solidarity and estrangement, reinforcing existing bonds for some while widening divisions for others.

October 7 and the ensuing war deepened mainstream Diaspora Jews’ ties to Israel while fueling anti-Zionist currents on the left. Israel’s “New Jew” secular identity has weakened, identification with Diaspora Jews has increased, and tensions have been exposed between Israel’s ethno-nationalist majority and its diasporic counterpart, which is an ethno-religious minority.

As a result, the Identity gauge has moved in a negative direction.

Resilience

Since October 7, Israel has faced two rapidly intensifying external challenges: a surge in antisemitism and an expanding lawfare campaign. In Europe and North America, antisemitism has reached levels unseen in decades – manifesting in verbal harassment, social exclusion, vandalism, and physical attacks, often targeting any Jew perceived as supportive of Israel. University campuses, cultural venues, and online platforms have become major arenas for this hostility, where criticism of Israeli policy often crosses into classic antisemitic tropes.

In parallel, Israel has become the target of a determined legal offensive. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, while growing international recognition of a Palestinian state could bolster claims of ICC jurisdiction over alleged war crimes. This could expose Israeli leaders, senior officers, and civilians to arrest abroad, travel bans, asset freezes, and diplomatic boycotts.

The combination of rising antisemitism and intensifying lawfare threatens not only Israel’s international legitimacy but also the security, mobility, and freedom of action of Israelis worldwide.

As a result, the Resilience gauge has moved in a negative direction this year.

Cohesion

The October 7 attack and the subsequent war have laid bare and deepened Israel’s political instability. Initial unity quickly gave way to renewed polarization over the war’s management, the handling of hostage negotiations, and the absence of a coherent political horizon. The Haredi draft exemption has become one of the most divisive issues, fueling resentment as ultra-Orthodox parties seek to entrench non-participation even during a national crisis. These disputes are compounded by the failure to settle the balance of power among government authorities, leaving major national disagreements to be resolved through raw political power rather than stable institutions. Without structural reform and mechanisms for consensus-building, political fragmentation, sectoral privilege, and weak constitutional safeguards threaten the country’s long-term governance and resilience.

In light of this deepening social crisis, the Cohesion gauge has moved in a negative direction this year.

Demography

The global Jewish population continues to grow, both in Israel and in many communities abroad. Between April 2024 and April 2025, however, Israel experienced a negative migration balance, with more people leaving than arriving. While the absolute numbers remain small and the length of stay abroad is often uncertain, emigrants tend to differ from the general population. Historically, those leaving Israel have been disproportionately young, secular, and left-leaning – a trend likely reflected in the current wave given the ongoing situation.

In some communities, such as in the Netherlands and South Africa, Israeli immigrants have reversed or slowed demographic decline. These migration flows can strengthen global Jewish ties, as Israeli expatriates maintain close connections with Israel and follow its political and cultural life from afar. Yet they also create a distinct Israeli diaspora that overlaps with, but is not identical to, the established Jewish Diaspora.

In light of the above, the Demography gauge remains stable and positive this year.

Israel-U.S. Relationship

The U.S.-Israel alliance in the wake of October 7 and the 12-day Iran war in 2025 has combined unprecedented cooperation with growing volatility. Shared values and strategic interests continue to anchor bipartisan support, but polarization in both countries renders it fragile. Israel’s military achievements and technological advances have benefited the U.S., yet uncertainty over President Trump’s future policy direction and the rise of anti-Israel sentiment from both far-left and far-right factions underscore the alliance’s vulnerability.

Republican backing remains generally strong but is fractured by isolationist and extremist elements; Democrats are split among pro-Israel voices, conditional supporters, and an emboldened anti-Zionist wing, energized by campus activism. Without proactive bipartisan engagement and sustained efforts to counter antisemitism and anti-Zionism across the political spectrum, U.S. support for Israel risks erosion as hostile narratives gain traction among future political leaders. Although tenuous, ties between the countries and particularly their governments are strong, as demonstrated by the June joint operation against Iran.

As a result, the Israel-U.S. Relationship gauge has moved in a positive direction this year.