A survey by the Gesher Centre and daily Yedioth Aharonoth indicates that 43 per cent would “firmly” oppose the presence of a church or mosque near their home. About 39 per cent would be opposed to social contacts between their children and non-Jewish children.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews/Agencies) – A survey by Israeli daily Yedioth Aharonoth shows that most Israeli Jews think that foreign immigrants threaten the Jewish character of the state. About 43 per cent would also be opposed to the presence of a church or a mosque near their residence.

The survey, conducted by the Panels Institute for Jerusalem’s Gesher Centre and the newspaper, shows that most Israeli Jews, not only Orthodox Jews, are against the assimilation of non-Jews; 78 per cent believe that migrants and refugees endanger the Jewishness of the state. This confirms concerns of a possible slide towards racism in Israel (see Arieh Cohen, “Behind the Katsav scandal, racism and crisis in Israel,” in AsiaNews, 31 December 2010).

The danger is great for 51 per cent of respondents, moderate for 21 per cent. Among the ultra-Orthodox, religious and traditional respondents, a vast majority believe that the State's Jewish character was jeopardized (93, 85 and 71 per cent respectively), while some 43 per cent of seculars responded similarly.

When asked what they would think if a mosque or a church was to be built next to their place of residence, some 43 per cent respondents said they would firmly oppose it.

“Absolutely not, this is the Jewish state and it is forbidden to build such places,” replied 80 per cent of ultra-Orthodox, 69 per cent of the religious, 52 per cent of traditionalists and 31 per cent of secular respondents.

In contrast, 30 per cent said they would agree unwillingly and ask for the structure to be modest, and 27 per cent said it was a right that should be granted to all worshippers—regardless of their faith.

When asked, “would you let your children have social contacts with non-Jewish kids?”, 56 per cent of the respondents replied affirmatively, while 39 per cent said no.

In reference to the question about their children’s marriage to non-Jews, 42 per cent said it would bother them and would oppose the marriage, while 33 per cent said it would bother them but they would not oppose the wedding, and 23 per cent declared that it would not bother them if he or she were "a good person.”

• israel
• survey
• gesher
• panels
• institute
• Yedioth
• Aharonoth
• church
• mosque
• social
• contacts
• immigration