A new survey paints a stark picture of how Israel’s chareidi public views the current political climate, with an overwhelming majority saying hostility toward them is on the rise amid the ongoing debate over the draft law and intensified public rhetoric.
According to the representative poll of chareidi respondents aired on Channel 14, 93% said they sense an increase in hatred directed at their community in public discourse. Only a small minority reported feeling no change. For many respondents, the sentiment reflects what they described as sustained collective blame and deep-seated animosity they likened to antisemitic-style hostility.
When participants were asked where they feel the harshest expressions of hatred originate, 46% pointed to voters of opposition parties. Another 27% said they primarily experience hostility from supporters of Naftali Bennett. Nine percent attributed it to right-wing voters, another 9% to the media, 5% to the judicial system, and 4% said they were unsure.
The survey also examined satisfaction levels with how Knesset members are handling pressing issues facing the chareidi community. Sixty-four percent of respondents said they are satisfied with the performance of their representatives, while 36% said they are dissatisfied.
Respondents were further asked whether leading rabbinic authorities should instruct the entry of a younger, new chareidi slate into the Knesset. On that question, 48% said they have no opinion, 38% said yes, and 13% said no.
Despite the crisis surrounding the draft law and the withdrawal of chareidi parties from the governing coalition, most respondents said they still identify with the religious-right bloc. Sixty-nine percent reported feeling part of the “emunah bloc” and the right-wing camp, while 31% said they do not.
{Matzav.com}
It’s time to fight back against the chilonim.
A new survey paints a stark picture of how Israel’s chareidi public views the current political climate, with an overwhelming majority saying hostility toward them is on the rise
Based on the things that Chariedi leaders have said and Chareidi protestors have done over the past two years, were this survey to be done in reverse, asking secular Israelis if they feel Charieidi to them is on the rise the responses would have been similar or feelings of even more hostility.
I’ve been in Eretz Yisrael for over 30 years, there has been a palpable LESSENING of hostility toward charedim.
Probably several factors led to this, like how the kiruv orgs (like Hidabroot) have been doing an excellent job of outreach and explaining thorny issues with compassion and intelligence, and also as more and more secular people experience frum friends and relatives, they develop friendlier feelings because someone they love who loves them is suddenly the formerly much-despise charedi.
However, the secular media (except for Channel 14) has undertaken a long-ranging campaign to fight the increase in ahavas Yisrael.