Israel Survey Full Report

Home Research Topics Religion Religions Comparison of Religions

March 4, 2016

Israel’s Religiously Divided Society

Israel Survey Full Report

Attachment Info

Israel’s Religiously Divided Society
Israel’s diverse religious landscape
Israeli Jews see democracy as compatible with Jewish state but are divided on whether democratic princes or religious law should take priority
Most Arabs say Israel cannot be both a democracy and Jewish state
Mutual doubts about sincerity of leaders in the peace process
Nearly unanimous share agree all Jews should have the right to citizenship in Israel
Most Jews say Israel necessary for long-term survival of the Jewish people
Most Jews say Israel should give preferential treatment to Jews
Large divide among Jews on whether halakha should be state law
Jewish groups disagree on key public policy issues
Majorities of Haredim, Datim agree Arabs should be expelled
Israeli Jews largely identify their political ideology with center or right
In 2014-2015, roughly three-in-ten Jews felt closest to Netanyahu’s Likud party
Haredim see being Jewish as a matter of religion; Hilonim see it as a matter of culture and/or identity
Most Hilonim see themselves as ‘Israeli first’; most Haredim say ‘Jewish first’
Most Haredim do not see themselves as ‘Zionists’
No significant differences in religious observance among older and younger Jews
More Arabs than Jews say religion ‘very important’
Few Haredim, Hilonim have close friends from outside their group
Haredim and Hilonim strongly opposed to intermarriage with each other
Muslims, Christians, Druze, Jews frown upon intermarriage between their communities
Vast majority of Arabs see ‘a lot’ of discrimination against Muslims
Roughly one-third of Muslims report having experienced at least one incident of discrimination in the past 12 months
Fewer Arabs over time say peaceful coexistence between Israel and independent Palestinian state is possible
Most Jews on the political right skeptical about two-state solution
More Jews say settlements help than hurt Israel’s security
Most residents of West Bank say Israeli government sincere in its effort toward peace
Orthodox settlers more likely than non-Orthodox to say Arabs should be expelled
Large differences in religious observance among Jews of different backgrounds
Change over time in Israel’s religious landscape
Jewish categories over time
Haredim have significantly more children than other Jews
Hilonim make up a bigger share of older Jews than of younger Jews
Recent decline in share of Jews who say they observe ‘some’ of the religious tradition
Change over time in Israel’s religious landscape
Jewish categories over time
Haredim have significantly more children than other Jews
Hilonim make up a bigger share of older Jews than of younger Jews
Recent decline in share of Jews who say they observe ‘some’ of the religious tradition
Large differences in religious observance among Jews of different backgrounds
Change over time in Israel’s religious landscape
Most Jews on the political right skeptical about two-state solution
More Jews say settlements help than hurt Israel’s security

1615 L St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
USA
(+1) 202-419-4300 | Main
(+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax
(+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries

Research Topics

ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

About

Terms & Conditions

Cookie Settings

Reprints, Permissions & Use Policy

Feedback

Careers