The Pluralism Index

Pluralism Index 2023: Israelis Want a Democratic and Jewish State

Findings from a comprehensive survey on pluralism in Israeli society.

By: Shmuel Rosner, Professor Camil Fuchs, Noah Slepkov.

Pluralism Index 2023: Israelis Want a Democratic and Jewish State

 1. There is overwhelming support among Jews and Arabs for Israel as a    democratic state, without deep disparities between different subgroups.

2. There is strong support for Israel as a Jewish state, with significantly less  support among secular Israelis.

3. In all population groups, a majority say that a democratic state has both free elections and protects human rights.

4. Those on the right believe (wrongly) that those on the center-left are less interested that Israel be a Jewish state.

5. Those on the left believe (wrongly) that those on the right are less interested that Israel be a democratic state.

6. Nearly half of Israeli Arabs (44%) say they do not oppose that Israel be a Jewish state.

7. The Jewish public as a whole expresses very strong agreement with central clauses in the Declaration of Independence.

8. However, there is weaker agreement among right-wing groups with the Declaration’s stance on equal rights.

9. Assessments of religious coercion on the part of secular Israelis, and assessments of secular coercion on the part of Religious-Haredi Israelis, are at nearly equal levels.

10. There is a continuing overall decline in the degree to which those living in Israel feel comfortable being themselves in the country – this year among the secular, those on the left, and Arabs.

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