New Survey Highlights Israeli Dissatisfaction with Religious Policy

15 October 2015

An annual survey by NIF grantee Hiddush has shown an increase in public support for religious freedom, with 95% of secular Israelis currently unhappy with the government’s religious policies. A large majority support civil partnerships and state recognition of non-Orthodox conversions. The survey also found that 81% of ultra-Orthodox Israelis are also dissatisfied, because they feel the government is not doing enough to enforce religious observance.

The survey revealed that 64% of Israelis support civil marriage or civil unions, and 64% also support same-sex marriage (compared to 56% in 2014). Seventy-nine percent of Israeli-Jews oppose the government’s plans to increase yeshiva budgets, while 82% support the mandatory implementation of core curricular studies in all ultra-Orthodox schools.

The survey, which began in 2009, is the most comprehensive opinion poll on religion and state issues in Israel. Hiddush CEO Rabbi Uri Regev said: “There is clearly a growing, solid, overwhelming majority of Israelis who are unhappy about the way religion and state are linked and impacting the lives of individuals and the state. The public clearly does not like what the Israeli government has provided it with.”

Hiddush Chairman Stanley P. Gold added: “I have become more and more concerned about the crippling unholy alliance between religion and state. The findings of the new Religion and State Index confirm my concerns and validate my conviction that one cannot exaggerate the necessity to finally break this union so that Israel can truly be the “home for all Jews” as Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly declared. I sincerely believe that, for Israel to remain strong, the advancement of religious freedom is no less important than strengthening its economy and defense.”

Photo credit: Florian PrischlKotel (Western Wall)