Most Israeli Jews Unhappy With State's Policies On Religion

Most Jews in Israel are unhappy with the government policy over issues of state and religion, according to a survey published Wednesday by Hiddush, an organization that promotes religious freedom and equality. Most seculars believe there is not enough religious freedom in Israel, while the majority of haredim claim the government's policy on the matter is too pluralistic.    

 
Most Israeli Jews unhappy with state-religion policies
Survey shows 80% of seculars want more religious freedom, while 91% of haredim think government policy is too pluralistic. Most seculars, traditional want unity government – excluding haredi parties
Kobi Nahshoni • Ynet

Most Jews in Israel are unhappy with the government policy over issues of state and religion, according to a survey published Wednesday by Hiddush, an organization that promotes religious freedom and equality.

Most seculars believe there is not enough religious freedom in Israel, while the majority of haredim claim the government's policy on the matter is too pluralistic.

The survey, conducted by Smith Institute, included 500 respondents which represented the adult Jewish population in Israel (maximum sampling error of 4.5%).

Out of all the respondents, 80% said they were "discontent" (61%) or "not so content" (19%) about the current policy vis-à-vis state and religion, compared with 20% who declared themselves "pretty content" (16%) or "extremely content (4%).

According to religious classification, all sectors seemed to have a disgruntle majority – 80% of secular Jews; 74% of traditional Jews; 64% of religious and 91% of haredim.

The respondents were also asked whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should form a unity government excluding haredi parties in order to "repair" the situation. Fifty six percent of respondents replied affirmatively, while 45% said no; excluding haredi respondents, the division was 65% in favor and 39% opposed.

Further analysis of the data indicated that the vast majority of haredim (97%) and religious (85%) opposed the proposal, while traditional Jews were split (52% in favor, 48% opposed) and seculars were mostly in favor (83%).

Hiddush CEO Rabbi Uri Regev commented on the survey's findings, saying "it represents the fact that the public is tired of subjugating his rights and future to haredi parties. The public wants a government that will finally realize the promise put forth by the Declaration of Independence, for freedom of religious – and not a government that passes legislation such as the yeshiva students' stipend law."

Regev called on Netanyahu and opposition leader Tzipi Livni to "grant the public's wishes and form a civil government that would courageously implement the needed reforms."

 

Comments

[harold]

Most Israeli Jews Unhappy With State's Policies On Religion

That will change as the haredi population continues to increase.

[Dave]

@ Harold: No shit Sherlock.

[Chicago Sam]

The only religion the Haredim worship is power; God, ethics, morality does not configure in their lifestyle. The only difference between them and the Taliban is a matter of degree, not kind. Religious fanaticism helped destroy Judea 2000 years ago, and it threatens to destroy Israel from within today. We have enough anti-Semites threatening to destroy our people. Haredism (as practiced by Ovadiah Yosef, Shach, and Schneersohn)is, in my view, a serious psychological disorder that needs medication and therapy for healing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[jay]

Once the Haredi population reaches a certain critical mass, the economy will collapse and most non-observant will have emigrated. At that time, the Arabs will win by default

[Alter Kocker]

Jay:
That, unfortunately is the probable result. The economic assessment of the Israeli economy is likely dismal given the rising demographic of Haredi families and their steadfast refusal to work coupled with the small component of their society that does work, but is relegated to the lowest rungs of productivity given their abysmal secular education levels.

To say the least, these people had better pray that Moshiach comes, because they are likely to be overrun by the surrounding arab nations, and because of their limited desire to do anything beyond prayer, capitulation will be inevitable. We are likely looking at a population that will be either refugees or enslaved.