Poll Shows Majority Favor Coalition Without Haredi Demands
A new annual survey by the Hiddush organization reveals a significant public desire for a broad, civil coalition government following the upcoming elections, one that either excludes Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties or includes them without yielding to their demands on religious and state matters. The findings indicate a deep divide between the current government's policies and the views of the majority of adult Jewish Israelis, with 64% supporting such a coalition. This sentiment transcends various segments of the population, including 86% of secular Israelis, 63% of traditional non-religious, 60% of traditional close to religious, and 45% of religious individuals.
The issue of equal burden-sharing, particularly regarding military conscription, has intensified since the October 7th war. The survey shows 84% of the Jewish public now supports conscripting yeshiva students in some form, a rise from previous years. A substantial majority (53%) demands full conscription into regular service or essential civilian service, while 31% would accept quotas for outstanding individuals. Only 16% of the public accepts the Haredi position of exempting students from military service, with even 18% of Haredim themselves supporting quotas or full conscription.
The public also largely backs the Supreme Court and the Attorney General regarding sanctions against draft dodgers, with 66% supporting enforcement measures like budget freezes and arrests, compared to 34% who support the government's attempts to block these actions. This support for judicial enforcement is strong among secular (91%), traditional non-religious (70%), and traditional close to religious (55%) Israelis.
Furthermore, the survey highlights public dissatisfaction with the education system, with 64% believing Hesder Yeshiva students should serve a full 30 months like other IDF soldiers, and 59% advocating for the cancellation of automatic exemptions for religious young women due to widespread false declarations. A significant majority (76%) supports cutting budgets for Haredi schools that refuse to teach core subjects and participate in external exams, with 55% demanding complete budget withdrawal. Additionally, 77% believe educational institutions should be completely disconnected from political parties, and illegal institutions should cease receiving funding and face criminal prosecution.
The survey also noted a shift within the Likud party's support base, with current voters holding more conservative views on civil issues compared to past voters, while showing increased support for attacks on the justice system. The Supreme Court leads public trust among state institutions, with 30% high trust, significantly surpassing the Knesset (10%) and the government (18%). The primary social tensions identified are between the right and left (81%) and between Haredim and secular Israelis (74%).
Uri Regev, CEO of Hiddush, criticized the political system, stating the index proves the opposite of the government's claims to represent the people's will. He also noted that the opposition's stance against Haredi parties is more driven by the conscription law debate than a vision for a Jewish and democratic state, emphasizing the public's demand for full religious freedom and equality.
