Crazy about politics: Who are the Israelis who are deeply involved in politics?

Executive Summary

Dr. Omer Yair

Recent research from various countries demonstrates that a small minority of the population is responsible for writing the vast majority of political content on social media platforms. These individuals also tend to consume large amounts of political news and engage frequently in political discussions. Drawing on Krupnikov and Ryan's groundbreaking 2022 work "The Other Divide," this study presents the first comprehensive examination of deep political involvement among the Israeli public.

Deep political involvement encompasses three key dimensions: extensive investment of time and attention in politics; attribution of importance to virtually every political event, including those others might consider marginal; and a strong tendency to express political views publicly and engage in political arguments with others. This goes far beyond mere political interest, representing a significant investment of personal identity in the political sphere.

The research is based on two representative online surveys conducted in December 2024 and April 2025, encompassing 2,955 respondents total. Using a validated scale adapted from the original American research, participants were asked about their agreement with seven statements measuring their propensity to share political opinions, correct others' political misconceptions, encourage political engagement, invest daily time in political updates, and contribute financially to political causes.

The findings reveal that approximately 10% of Israelis demonstrate high levels of deep political involvement, with most citizens showing moderate engagement and about 20-25% displaying low political involvement. This distribution mirrors a normal curve similar to patterns found in the United States. Demographically, older respondents, particularly those over 60, show significantly higher involvement than younger citizens. Men demonstrate slightly higher involvement than women, while individuals with higher levels of religiosity tend to be less deeply involved in politics.

Perhaps most surprising is the finding that Arab citizens report higher levels of deep political involvement than Jewish citizens, despite traditionally lower voting rates and political participation in many other measured activities. This counterintuitive result warrants further investigation in future research.

The behavioral implications of deep political involvement are substantial and consistent with findings in the US. Deeply involved Israelis follow politics much more intensively, engage in political discussions with family and friends far more frequently, and demonstrate greater confidence in their ability to influence government policy. They are significantly more likely to boycott media outlets and businesses for political reasons and to post political content on social media platforms. Notably, while deeply involved Americans tend to be more hostile toward political opponents, the Israeli data shows mixed evidence for this pattern, suggesting important cultural or contextual differences.

The study's most significant finding concerns the outsized influence of this politically engaged minority on public discourse. Just as research shows that 97% of Twitter posts in the US are written by only 10% of users, deeply involved Israelis dominate political conversations both online and offline. They are dramatically more likely to post political content on social media - with over 50% of the most deeply involved posting political content weekly compared to just 2% of those with minimal involvement. This creates a situation where public political discourse is shaped disproportionately by a small, highly active minority whose views and intensity may not reflect those of the broader population.

These findings have profound implications for understanding Israeli political culture and interpreting public opinion. The voices that are most prominent in political discourse - whether on social media, in public forums, or even in conversations with journalists and politicians - come predominantly from citizens who are more invested in politics than the average Israeli. While this group is more engaged, and likely also more knowledgeable, they may also hold more extreme positions and exhibit greater certainty about their political views than the general population.

The research suggests important considerations for politicians, journalists, and researchers seeking to understand Israeli public opinion. The most visible and vocal political voices may not represent mainstream views, and the apparent intensity of political conflict in public discourse may be amplified by the outsized participation of deeply involved citizens. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for maintaining democratic representation and ensuring that policy decisions reflect the broader public will rather than the preferences of the most politically active minority.

Dr. Omer Yair is the research director and a research fellow at the Institute for Liberty and Responsibility at the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at Reichman University.

For the full review [in Hebrew] of deep involvement in politics in Israel on the Institute for Liberty and Responsibility website, click here.