A majority of Canadian Jews oppose policies of the current Israeli government but defend the war in Gaza, a new national survey of Jewish voters in Canada, conducted by Leger, commissioned by JSpaceCanada, the New Israel Fund of Canada, and Canadian Friends of Peace Now, found.
The 2025 Survey of Canadian Jews surveyed 502 self-identified Jewish voters between November 4 and 19, 2025.
It found that a majority of Canadian Jews (53%) oppose settlement expansion in the West Bank and Gaza and that this opposition is not exclusive to the political Left.
Additionally, support for Canadian sanctions on violent settlers has risen from 35% in 2024 to 43% in 2025.
Canadian Jews divided on threats to Israel's democracy
In terms of views on Israeli democracy, 75% believe Israel is a democracy, but nearly 50% think the government’s judicial reforms threaten its democracy.
On the war in Gaza, a clear majority of Canadian Jews (70%) justify it as self-defense, hostage recovery, or a conventional military conflict and reject claims of genocide or intentional starvation.
A smaller but significant minority, between 17% and 25%, strongly criticizes Israel’s conduct, with sharper criticism concentrated among the firm Left, Reform Jews, and NDP voters.
Additionally, 24% chose descriptions of the war that indicate illegal or illegitimate actions: war crimes (10%), ethnic cleansing (4%), and genocide (10%).
Looking to the future of the region, a majority (52%) of respondents still support a two-state solution. And 51% agree with the statement “I support Israeli security but oppose settlements as a violation of international law, which also makes a two-state solution impossible.”
“Despite the past two years of war and a defensive position to it, the Canadian Jewish community is still engaged, diverse, and supportive of firm, values-based advocacy on democracy, settlements, and long-term peace, particularly when framed around balance, security, and shared Jewish and democratic values,” said Maytal Kowalski, executive director of JSpaceCanada.
“Canadian Jews are watching anxiously about the decline of democracy in Israel,” said Ben Murane, the executive director of the New Israel Fund of Canada.
“This survey shows that most Canadian Jews want their government and Jewish institutions to support Israelis fighting to preserve Israeli democracy – with Canadian policy and with charitable dollars.”
“For decades, Peace Now has argued that Israel’s future depends on a negotiated two-state solution and an end to settlement expansion,” said Gabriella Goliger, national chair of Canadian Friends of Peace Now.
“Canadian Friends of Peace Now is heartened to see that a majority of Canadian Jews, including many on the Right, share this view, even as the Netanyahu government works to block the possibility of two states.”
JSpaceCanada is a pro-Israel, pro-peace Jewish Zionist organization, championing a two-state solution. The New Israel Fund of Canada mobilizes Canadian Jews by raising funds for projects in Israel.
And Canadian Friends of Peace Now is a partner to Peace Now/Shalom Achshav in Israel, which advocates for a two-state solution, opposes settlement expansion, and seeks to promote the message of a progressive, peace-seeking Zionism in Canada.