Civil conflict and nuclear Iran top Israel’s threat list | Watch ynet-INSS live

A new survey presented at the ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth National Security Conference, in partnership with the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), reveals that the Israeli public views internal violent conflict and Iran obtaining nuclear weapons as the country's most serious threats. The study, based on surveys conducted in February and July, examined seven major threat scenarios for 2026 and three scenarios concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In July, 39% of respondents identified violent conflict between social groups and Iran obtaining nuclear weapons as top threats. While a large-scale missile attack was considered the most likely scenario, internal conflict was seen as the most damaging. The report emphasizes that threats are interconnected, with domestic democratic erosion potentially weakening U.S. support and undermining deterrence against Iran. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is also presented as affecting Israel's international standing. Additional vulnerabilities include the economic disparity between offensive and defensive systems, inadequate home front protection, and potential brain drain in the high-tech sector.