Israeli Jews: No vote for Arabs who deny country’s ‘Jewishness’

As many as 60 per cent of Israeli Jews support denying Arab-Israelis the right to vote unless they recognise Israel as a “Jewish State” and serve in the army, a new poll has revealed.

The Israeli Democracy Index for 2015, prepared by Israel Democracy Institute, was submitted to President Reuven Rivlin yesterday revealed that 47 per cent of respondents which included Israeli-Arabs and Jews believed the tension in the country is between Jews and Arabs while 18 per cent believed the tension is between the right and left.

According to the poll 37.5 per cent of Jews believed the Israeli government should encourage Arab citizens to emigrate outside of Israel.

Some 54 per cent of Jews supported granting equal budgets to Arab towns while 78 per cent said they do not mind to receive treatment from an Arab or Jewish doctor.

According to the poll, 67 per cent of Arabs do not feel they are part of Israel and its problems, while 76 per cent said they feel they are an integral part of the Palestinian people but can be “sincere” citizens of Israel, but as many as 55 per cent of Jews believed this is not possible.

Regarding Arab politicians, 85 per cent of Arabs and 35 per cent of Jews said they want to see Arab parties in government. With 73.5 per cent of Israeli Jews believing decisions must be taken with a Jewish majority.

Meanwhile, 36 per cent of Jews said they oppose living next to Arabs and a similar percentage of Arabs said they would not live next to Jews.

The most important issue for 36.5 per cent of Jewish Israelis is to define Israel as a “Jewish State”, while 35.5 per cent said the country should be defined as a democratic state and 27 per cent said both definitions were equally important.

The poll showed that 85 per cent of respondents believed the army is the most popular organ in Israel followed by the head of state.

As many as 78 per cent said they felt unable to influence the government.