Poll: Two-thirds of Israeli Jews support unity government without Haredi parties

April 23, 2019

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Tags: Israeli Jews, support, two-thirds, Unity government, without Haredi parties

Survey conducted by pluralism advocacy NGO indicates majority of Jewish public wants government that will change status quo on issues of religion and state

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz

Times of Israel reports, “Over two-thirds of Israeli Jews want the ongoing coalition talks to end with a unity government that excludes the ultra-Orthodox parties and advances religious pluralism, according to a public opinion poll published Tuesday.

Sixty-six percent of the Jewish public prefers a government that includes the two largest parties — Likud and Blue and White (which both won 35 seats in April 9’s elections) — and that leaves out the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties, a poll conducted by the Hiddush organization for religious pluralism found, as opposed to 34% of Jewish Israelis who support a more narrow coalition, including the ultra-Orthodox parties and maintaining the status quo on issues of religion and state. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is poised to form a 65-strong coalition including the two ultra-Orthodox parties; Blue and White is set to lead the opposition.”

“The numbers favoring a unity government were highest among Blue and White voters — at an overwhelming 98%. Eighty-four percent of Yisrael Beytenu voters also expressed support for a government devoid of ultra-Orthodox parties — indicative of chairman Avigdor Liberman’s ardent support for secular policies such as civil marriage and public transportation on Shabbat. Some 55% of Likud voters also support such a unity government, according to the poll.”

Leader of the Shas’party Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, right, with leader of the United Torah Judaism party, deputy health minister Yaakov Litzman

“The most thorny issue is expected to be legislation regulating — and limiting — exemptions to military conscription for ultra-Orthodox students, which Liberman is insisting should be passed without amendment, while ultra-Orthodox parties have said they will not join the coalition if it is advanced without changes. Both Yisrael Beytenu and the ultra-Orthodox factions are essential for Netanyahu if he is to assemble a majority coalition.” (more…)