Israeli Jews are proud of their country and of their religion but concerned by societal rifts and the rising cost of living. This is according to a new poll by the Pnima Movement, which works to address the rifts and polarization in Israeli society, ahead of Independence Day.
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One-third of Israelis, around 35%, surveyed said the state did not treat bereaved families properly. Sixty-eight percent of Israelis aged 29 and under were of that opinion as opposed to just 19% of Israelis aged 65 and over. Thirty percent of Israelis said the Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism should not be marked immediately prior to Independence Day. Twelve percent of Israelis said the proximity of the two days harmed the sanctity of Memorial Day, while 13% said they should be separated to ease the emotional burden on bereaved families.
Around 65% of Israelis have lost either a friend or family member in either an Israeli military operation or terrorist attack. Nearly a quarter of all Israelis, 23%, said they had lost a close friend in an Israeli military campaign.
The poll was carried out for the Pnima Movement by Direct Polls among 500 respondents aged 18 and over representing a sample of Israeli society.
Pnima CEO Uri Efroni noted, "It seems that Memorial Day and Independence Day are among the few symbols that unite Israeli society, which suffers from polarization and rifts, especially in recent years. The fact that one-third of Israelis think the country does not afford appropriate treatment to bereaved families is a badge of shame and demands in-depth self-examination, in particular in the leadership sector."
He continued: "In a country where 65% of citizens have personal ties to a bereaved family and paid the heaviest price – which by the way is seen across communities and sectors – the model of a weekend that separates Memorial Day and Independence Day should be examined. The transition is too painful and does not truly allow for independence to be celebrated."
Around 90% of respondents said they were proud to be Jewish. Eighty percent of Israelis said they were proud to be Israeli compared to 20% who said they were not proud of their Israeli identity. Residents of Beersheba reported feeling the proudest of being Israeli, followed by Haifa and then Jerusalem.
Asked what they were most proud of, 66% said they were proud of the Israel Defense Forces, 47% said they were proud of Israel's high-tech sector, and around 39% said they were proud of the sense of solidarity seen in Israel since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Another 24% said they were proud of Israeli industry and agriculture.
A majority of Israelis, 56%, said they were optimistic about the country's future compared to 40% who said they weren't.
Asked what issues were most pressing, a plurality, 41%, said societal rifts. A quarter, 25%, said the cost of living was the most urgent issue. Twelve percent cited the threat posed by Iran, and another 12% said the Palestinians.
At 43%, Tel Avivians were most concerned by the rising cost of living, while Jerusalemites were most concerned by societal rifts at 42%.
According to the poll's findings, 33% of Israelis have contemplated moving out of the country over the last year. Sixty-six percent of respondents aged 18 and 24 said they had thought about leaving Israel compared to 53% of Israelis aged 25 to 34.
Among the reasons cited for contemplating a move, 40% said the high cost of living, 22% said the security situation and 18% said societal rifts.
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