A Ynet-Gesher poll reveals most Israelis favor nullifying religious laws and favors drafting chareidim. The poll shows majority support for operating public buses on shabbos and recognizing civil marriage as well.

The survey was conducted by the Panels research institute through the Panel4all Internet panel among 508 respondents – a representative sample of Israel’s adult Jewish population (maximum sampling error: 4.3%).

Should stores operate on shabbos?

Respondents were asked how they feel about laws that compel stores to close on shabbos, ban the sale of chametz during Pesach and raising pigs.

55% favor the laws

40% favor abolishing the laws (20% of this group adds that legislation contributes to hate towards religion and the laws can by bypassed in any event. 18% feel religious legislation is not legitimate in a democratic society)

5% remain undecided

43% of respondents wish to maintain the Jewish identity of the state and 12% say they want to maintain the status quo between religious and non-frum Jews.

65% of non-frum respondents favor abolishing religious laws.

89% of chareidim, 78% of religious Jews and 65% of traditional Jews are in favor of keeping them.

Public bus service on shabbos

70% of respondents said they want to see public buses running on shabbos nationwide.

27% oppose bus service on shabbos.

2% did not respond.

(25% favor bus service in parts of the country – 45% favor bus services in areas with a non-frum majority)

Ynet reports that an analysis of the results reveals that 53% of seculars and 55% of traditional Jews are in favor of operating public transportation on shabbos, at least partially, while 86% of chareidim and 76% of religious Jews are in favor of maintaining the current situation.

Recognizing civil marriage

61% of respondents want the next Knesset to recognize civil marriage. (87% of non-frum and 57% of traditional Jews)

31% oppose such a law (77% of chareidim and 72% of religious Jews)

8% did not respond

Drafting chareidim

63% share sharing the burden, IDF service by all (22% think all citizens must join the army, while 41% view civil service as a reasonable alternative)

19% favor encouraging military service but not compulsory draft

8% favor setting a quota for outstanding avreichim who will be exempt from service

6% favor bringing back the Tal Law.

4% call upon the Knesset to exempt all chareidim towards preventing civil war

66% of chareidim believe yeshiva students should be exempt

88% of non-frum call upon chareidim to at least do a national service program

70% of traditional Jews feel chareidim should do civil service

34% of religious Jews favor encouraging enlistment but oppose forced draft

47% of religious Jews favor forced draft up to certain numbers of chareidim

Ilan Geal-Dor, CEO of the Gesher Foundation which works to bridge the gaps between different segments of the Israeli society, said in response to the findings that a significant gap remained between religious and secular Jews in regards to religious laws.

“This does not necessarily reflect a gap in regards to the State of Israel’s Jewish character, but in regards to the process. We at Gesher believe that the nature of the State’s public domain must be determined in a decision shared by all residents rather than just one side.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)