JERUSALEM — The Israeli government approved three new resolutions allocating more than 100 million shekels to strengthen Jewish identity and ties between Israel and Diaspora Jews, following findings from the 2026 Diaspora Index survey. The survey reported that 57% of Israeli respondents identified first as Jewish and only then as Israeli, up from 34% in 2025 and the highest level recorded in the index’s 10-year history.
According to the 2026 Diaspora Index – Public Attitudes Toward the Relationship Between Israel and World Jewry report, 87% of Israelis expressed pride in being Jewish and said Jewish identity is important to them, an increase from the previous two years. Additionally, 85% agreed that Judaism represents more than a religion, signifying belonging to one people with shared history and roots. The survey also found that 94% of Israelis expect global Jewish communities to support Israel during wartime, while a growing number view intermarriage and assimilation in the Diaspora as a major threat to Jewish continuity. The report also noted a decline in the degree of responsibility that Israelis believe the State of Israel should bear toward Diaspora Jewry.
One resolution allocates 30 million shekels between 2026 and 2028 for a joint initiative between the Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry and the Education Ministry to train 200–250 Diaspora educators annually in Israel. The program, which includes cohorts of school principals and early-childhood educators for the first time, focuses on Jewish studies, Israel studies, and Zionism. "We expect more than 2,000 educators from around the world to participate in training programs in Judaism, Israel, Zionism, and related fields over the coming year," said Yom Tov Raanan, Deputy Director General of the ministry. "These government initiatives will enable meaningful encounters between more than 1,500 Israeli teenagers and over 10,000 Jewish teens from the Diaspora during the coming year," he said.
A second resolution addresses disruptions to youth and educational programs like Taglit-Birthright Israel and Masa Israel Journey during military operations. It tasks the Diaspora Ministry with representing participants’ needs during emergencies and coordinating emergency procedures with government agencies and educational organizations.
The third resolution extends the Joint Initiative between the Government of Israel and the Jewish People in the Diaspora with up to 90 million shekels in funding through 2027. The initiative aims to foster encounters between Israeli and Diaspora youth, train informal educators, and develop solutions to challenges facing young Jews abroad.
"The index highlights the importance of strengthening and maintaining the deep connection among the Jewish people across the world," said President Isaac Herzog. "The State of Israel regards its relationship with Jewish communities around the world as a value of the highest importance and an inseparable part of the nation's identity. It is our duty to continue nurturing this deep connection, strengthening the sense of mutual responsibility among all parts of the Jewish people, and passing on to future generations the importance of the bond between the State of Israel and Jewish communities worldwide," he said.
"For decades, Diaspora Jews strengthened the State of Israel. Today it is our turn to strengthen them," said Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli. "That is why we are expanding the Israeli government's investment in Jewish communities around the world. We understand that the most important investment is in Jewish education, the foundation of identity, mutual responsibility, and the future of the Jewish people."
No independent assessment was available for this report.