Israeli Public Favors Year-Round Daylight Saving Time, Poll Finds

A recent poll in Israel indicates a strong public desire to abolish the twice-yearly clock changes. The survey, conducted by the "Tzohar" organization ahead of the upcoming shift to winter time, revealed that 44% of respondents support permanently adopting daylight saving time. Only 20% favored the current system of changing clocks twice a year, while 13% preferred permanent standard time. Another 23% were undecided.

The findings showed a correlation between opinions on time changes and respondents' religiosity and age. Among secular Israelis, 53% favored permanent daylight saving time, compared to 47% of traditionalists. Support for permanent daylight saving time decreased among more religious groups, with 30% of religious citizens and 26% of ultra-Orthodox citizens favoring it. Interestingly, in the ultra-Orthodox sector, maintaining the current system of changing clocks was the most popular option, supported by 37% of respondents, and permanent standard time received 21% of the vote.

Age also played a role, with younger demographics showing the strongest preference for year-round daylight saving time. Exactly 51% of Israelis aged 18-24 and 25-34 supported permanent daylight saving time. This support waned with age, dropping to 35% among those 55 and older. However, the older age group showed the highest support for permanent standard time at 18%.

Gender had a minimal impact on opinions, with 45% of men and 43% of women supporting permanent daylight saving time.