Less than one-fourth of Israeli teenagers trust Israeli decision-makers, according to a recent study conducted by the National Student and Youth Council, with the organization's chairman, Dror Cohen, describing the findings as "a wake-up call for the entire system."
The "Seeing Youth 2026" study, led by Education for Life Association CEO Or Mordo, is set to be presented on Sunday evening at the 30th National Conference of Student and Youth Councils in Jerusalem.
The study, conducted in collaboration with Dr. Einav Amram-Ashrov of Ono Academic College, examined the well-being of Israeli teenagers during wartime, the first Israeli study of its kind.
According to the study, which included over 2,100 participants, only 21.8% of Israeli teenagers express clear trust in Israeli decision-makers, while only 27% believe that elected officials are properly performing their obligations. Notably, nearly three-quarters of participants reported feeling a sense of belonging to the country, suggesting a clear gap between connection to the State and trust in government.
In addition, the data show that many teenagers deal with emotional stress, burnout, and a sense of instability, along with a feeling that they do not have enough strength, tools, or support to deal with hardships. Only 16.1% of teenagers believe inter-group relations in Israel are positive, while 53.2% believe they can count on other citizens to come to their aid in a crisis.
Regarding burnout, 55.6% of teenagers report feeling full of energy and vitality, while 47.1% say they manage to stay focused and think clearly under stress.
Mordo: Results 'should be troubling' to leadership
"The study reveals a generation with great strengths, but also with fatigue, emotional burden, and a deep crisis of trust," Mordo said. "The figure that only 27% of youth think that their elected officials are functioning properly should be troubling to every decision-maker in Israel."
There is also a sense of frustration among Israeli youth regarding the lack of young people involved in national decision-making. 81.4% believe that young Israelis should be involved, though only 36.8% feel their opinions are truly sought.
"Teenagers in Israel are not asking to be spoken for; they are asking to be real partners," Cohen said. "We will demand that the voice of youth be made part of the decision-makers."