ZIM Shipping Sale: 67% of Israelis Oppose Deal Involving Qatari Shareholders

A clear majority of the Jewish public in Israel opposes the approval of a deal to sell the shipping company ZIM to a buyer whose shareholders include Qatari entities. This is according to a new survey conducted last week by Midgam Research and Consulting Ltd., headed by Manu Geva, commissioned by the ZIM Workers' Committee.

The question presented to the survey participants was: "According to reports, the sale of the Israeli shipping company ZIM to a buyer whose shareholders include Qatari entities may bring significant investment to the company, strengthening its operations and its ability to compete in the global market. On the other hand, concerns have been raised about introducing Qatari stakeholders into a company of strategic importance to Israel. What is your position regarding the approval of the deal?"

According to the survey findings, 57.1% of respondents oppose the approval of the deal due to Qatari involvement, and an additional 10% oppose the deal in any case. In total, 67.1% of respondents oppose the approval of the deal.

According to the survey results, 30.5% of respondents replied that they support the approval of the deal only subject to security checks and approvals. Only 2.4% of respondents support the approval of the deal even if there are Qatari entities among the shareholders.

The survey findings indicate that opposition to the deal is broad and crosses population groups:

Among men, the rate of opponents stands at 70.2%, and among women at 64.2%. In all age groups, a majority was found opposing the approval of the deal, with the highest opposition rates recorded among those aged 55 to 64 (74.2%) and among those aged 65 and over (73.2%).

A breakdown by level of religiosity also showed opposition in all groups: 77.2% among the religious, 70.2% among the secular, 66% among the ultra-Orthodox, and 60.2% among the traditional.

Among those with an academic education, the rate of opponents stands at 74%, compared to 61.1% among those with post-secondary education and 59.6% among those with up to secondary education.

A majority opposing the deal was also recorded at all income levels: 70.2% among those with above-average income, 65.9% among those with average income, and 62.6% among those with below-average income.

Oren Caspi, Chairman of the ZIM Workers' Committee, in response to the survey results: "The survey shows that the public understands very well what is at stake. ZIM is not just another commercial company. It is a shipping company of strategic importance, which is part of Israel's maritime independence, its supply chain security, and the ability to ensure the State of Israel's connection to the world even in times of emergency."

"When nearly seven out of ten oppose the approval of the deal, and only 2.4% are willing to approve it without reservation even when there is involvement of Qatari shareholders, decision-makers must listen. This is not just a struggle of the workers; it is a struggle for the national interest. We call on the Israeli government to stop the deal, keep ZIM Israeli, and ensure the future of the company's employees and their families."

The survey was conducted in August 2026 by Midgam Research and Consulting Ltd., headed by Manu Geva, among 499 respondents aged 18 and over, constituting a representative sample of the Jewish population in Israel, who are members of the iPanel internet panel.