62% of Religious Zionists Say Jewish Majority More Important Than Ruling West Bank

By JTA January 28, 2015

Three-fifths of Israeli religious Zionists prioritize safeguarding Israel’s Jewish majority over keeping control of the West Bank.

According to a survey of religious Zionists conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute think tank, 62 percent believe maintaining Israel’s Jewish majority is more important than controlling the “entire Land of Israel from the Jordan to the Mediterranean.”

The Jewish Home party, the flagship political party of religious Zionists, opposes any withdrawal from the West Bank.

But 40 percent of respondents support Israeli soldiers refusing to carry out orders to evacuate West Bank settlements. One quarter of respondents said Israel’s laws may be disobeyed because of Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

In addition, 45 percent of respondents favor Israel allowing some form of civil marriage, either for all Israelis or for those unable to marry in an Orthodox Jewish wedding. Currently, Israel only allows Jews to marry in an Orthodox ceremony. Forty-five percent also would welcome same-sex couples into an Orthodox congregation.

But respondents also supported greater religious influence over Israeli law. Four-fifths of respondents said Israel should grant automatic citizenship only to those Jewish according to Orthodox Jewish law. Currently, anyone with at least one Jewish grandparent can gain automatic citizenship. And a majority of respondents believe the political decisions of religious Knesset members should be subject to rabbinic authority.

The poll found that 22 percent of Israelis define themselves as religious Zionists, though one-third do not self-define as Orthodox. The poll’s marign of error was 3.2 percent.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO