The Israel Democracy Institute released the results of its Israeli Democracy Ranking and poll on Tuesday, revealing that 53 percent of Jewish Israelis say the government should encourage Arabs to emigrate from Israel, and only 51% believe Jews and Arabs should have equal rights.
The poll showed that the more religious respondents were, the less they believed Arabs should have equal rights, with 33.5% of secular Jews opposing rights for Arabs, as opposed to 51% of traditional Jews, 65% of religious Jews, and 72% of haredim. In addition, 86% of Jewish Israelis believe that important decisions should be made by a Jewish majority.
RELATED:'80% of Israelis dissatisfied with state, religious policy'Opinon: Yalla Peace: Unfazed and unafraidPremium: By the Numbers: Let the Leaders LeadThe institute's findings were presented to President Shimon Peres, Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin, Minister of Justice Yaakov Neeman and High Court Chief Justice Dorit Beinisch.
Nearly half (46%) of Jewish Israelis polled said that they would not want to live near Arabs, and 39% would be opposed to living near foreign workers or people with mental illness. One-fourth would not want to live near a homosexual couple, and 23% opposed having haredi neighbors.
Arabs had different preferences, with 70% opposing living near gays, 67% against haredi neighbors and 65% against former settlers. About half (46%) would not want to be neighbors with foreign workers.
The Israel Democracy Institute polled Jewish and Arab Israelis as to
their views on and satisfaction from democracy in Israel. The survey
showed that most Israelis said Israel should remain a democracy, while
claiming that democracy in Israel is weak and inefficient.
More
than half (55%) of Israelis support the statement "Israel's situation
would be much better if Israel considered the rules of democracy less,
and focused more on keeping law and order."
Most (60%) Israelis
advocated a more concentrated government, with strong leaders that
"solve problems efficiently." In addition, 59% prefer rule by experts
who make decisions based on professional opinions, and not because of
politics.
Israelis are also disappointed by the lack of influence their opinions have on government policy.
As in last year, 81% of Israelis have faith in the IDF.
In a ranking of democracies around the world, separate from the poll, Israel was rated least stable.
Israel
received this low score due to major socioeconomic gaps, which have not
improved since previous years. There is also less gender equality in
Israel then there was in the past.
Israel's democratic rating is the same as last year's, placing it with new democracies in Eastern Europe and South America.