Almost half of Britons want fewer or no ‘Israeli’ immigrants: YouGov poll

Almost half of Britons favour fewer or no ‘Israeli’ immigrants, according to a new YouGov poll comparing attitudes in 2026 with those in 2016.

The survey, titled “Britons have a more negative view of immigration in 2026 than in 2016” and based on fieldwork conducted on 8-9 June, found that 23% of respondents wanted less immigration from ‘Israel’ and 24% wanted none at all.

Combined, 47% preferred a reduction or complete stop, an eight-point rise from 39% a decade earlier.

Only 5% favoured allowing more ‘Israeli’ migrants, while 24% supported maintaining current numbers.

YouGov noted that Britons are now more likely to want fewer or no migrants from Russia, ‘Israel’, India and the United States than in 2016.

“Likewise, there has also been an eight point increase in the number wanting to see fewer or no migrants from Israel, from 39% in 2016 to 47% now. Again, this is presumably a result of attitudes towards Israel souring as a result of the Gaza conflict,” the polling firm stated.

Russia topped the list of countries from which Britons most want reduced migration, at 58% (up 13 points), followed by Pakistan at 52%, Nigeria at 48%, and ‘Israel’ at 47%.

Other figures included Romania (47%), Egypt and India (both 44%), and Turkey (43%). By contrast, attitudes towards Polish migrants have warmed markedly, with those wanting fewer or none falling from 42% to 26%.

Overall, public sentiment on immigration has hardened. Some 69% said immigration over the last ten years has been too high (broadly unchanged from 70% in 2016), while 43% now say it has been “mostly bad” for the UK—a 10-point rise—compared with 21% who view it as mostly good and 29% who see it as both good and bad.

The shift is visible across Brexit divides, though uneven.

Remain voters wanting fewer or no ‘Israeli’ migrants rose from 27% in 2016 to 41% in 2026, while Leave voters remained stable at 52% in both years.

“Notably, Remain voters have become more negative towards migrants from the US and Israel, compared to virtually no change among Leave voters,” YouGov observed.

By 2024 general election vote, Reform UK and Green Party supporters showed the highest opposition to ‘Israeli’ immigration, at roughly 52-53%.

Labour and Conservative voters sat in the mid-to-high 40s, with Liberal Democrats lowest at around 41%.

Green voters were especially likely to prioritise reductions from ‘Israel’ relative to other nationalities.