According to a Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), while Israelis by and large continue to trust the IDF, the same cannot be said for the nation’s trust in its government. The IDF remains at the top of the list of trusted state institutions in the latest CBS survey and political parties are at the low end. The results of the latest survey were released on Sunday 4 Tammuz.

Overall trust in the IDF leads with 82% (83% among women). However, trust in the military is higher among Jews (93%) as opposed to Arabs (32%), higher among college graduates (88%) and lower among the rest of the population (79%). It is highest in the dati leumi community (97%) as opposed to the chareidi community (72%). Trust is also high among traditional Jews (96%) as well as secular Jews (94%).

If one breaks down trust in the IDF by age:

· 20-44-years-old, 52%

· 45-64-years-old, 63%

· Over 65-years-old, 73%

The State Comptroller’s Office still earns the support of the majority of the nation (60%) but there is a marked difference among Jews (64%) and Arabs (41%). This trust diminishes when we turn to the nation’s judicial system (58%), but it remains higher among Jews (60%) as compared to Arab citizens (41%).

Interestingly, trust in the judicial system diminishes among the more religious as only 22% of chareidim trust the justice system as opposed to 46% of Orthodox Jews, 61% traditional and 70% non-religious Jews.

“I don’t trust the justice system at all”

· 47% chareidim

· 18% Orthodox

· 7% secular

The level of trust in the judicial system also varies among new immigrants

· 53% among immigrants from Former Soviet Union (arrived after 1990)

· 43% among immigrants from Ethiopia

Trust in the Central Bureau of Statistics

· 62% among college graduates

· 51% among non-college graduates

Trust in Israel Police

· 70% of Ethiopian immigrants do not trust the police

· 53% of the general public trusts the police

· 60% of immigrants from the former Soviet Union trust the police

· 34% of immigrants form the former Soviet Union do not trust police

However, the level of trust in Israel Police varies and is higher among Jews (57%) than among Arabs (34%). The former immigrants from Ethiopia are the least trusting in police/

Do you trust in the government?

· 40% overall population trusts the government

· 42% of Jews trust the government

· 28% of Arabs trust the government

· 60% of Orthodox & traditional Jews trust the government

· 29% of chareidim trust the government

· 32% of secular Israelis trust the government

Don’t trust the government at all

· 32% of secular Israelis don’t have any trust whatsoever

· 13% of Orthodox Israelis don’t have any trust whatsoever

Trust in the Knesset & political parties

· 38% of the general public trusts the Knesset

· 40% of Jews trust the Knesset

· 25% of Arabs trust the Knesset

· 22% of the general public trusts political parties

· 24% of Jews trust political parties

· 15% of Arabs trust political parties

Trust in municipalities (local government)

· 61% of the general public trusts local government

· 75% of residents in larger municipalities (over 100,000 residents) trust the local government.

Trust is highest in Beersheva (75%), Netanya & Rishon L’Tzion (73%), Tel Aviv (71%), Rehovot (69%), Holon (68%), Bat Yam & Ramat Gan (64%), Bnei Brak (63%), Haifa & Ashkelon (57%), Petah Tikvah (55%), Ashdod (54%), and Jerusalem (40%).

Trust in the media

· 39% of the general public trusts the press

· 35% among 20-44-year-olds

· 45% among persons 45-years-old and older

Do you feel you can influence government policy?

· 85% no

Do you feel you can influence local government policy?

· 75% no

Do you feel you have been discriminated against?

· 31% yes (because of either age, nationality, or ethnicity). This is broken down to 31% (overall population), 10% (Jews) and 30% (non-Jews)

If one addresses discrimination due to religion, Muslims lead (27%), Druse (20%), Christians (19%), Jews (10%)

The feeling of discrimination is higher among chareidim (41%) as opposed to Orthodox Jews (16%) and even less among traditional Jews (8%) and lowest among secular Jews (5%).

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)