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Poll: Most Israelis believe Diaspora Jews have no right to criticize Israel
Survey commissioned by B'nai B'rith World Center in Jerusalem shows 77 percent of Jewish Israelis satisfied with Diaspora assistance for North during and following Second Lebanon War
Ynetnews
Fifty-four percent of Israelis believe Diaspora Jews have no right to publicly criticize the government of Israel, compared with 40 percent who believe that Jews who live in the Diaspora can publicly criticize Israel, according to a recent survey commissioned by the B'nai B'rith World Center in Jerusalem.
The poll, which was conducted among a representative sample of 500 Jewish Israelis over the age of 18, shows that 46 percent of the Jewish adult population in Israel believe that all Jews in the world should live in the State of Israel because “this is the only way Israel and the Jewish people will be strengthened”, compared with 41 percent who agree with the statement that “Jews should live dispersed in various communities in the world as diversity and global support is the only way Israel and the Jewish people will be strengthened”.
The survey confirms that 77 percent of Jewish Israelis are satisfied with Diaspora assistance for the North during and following the Second Lebanon War and for Sderot. A vast majority of those polled – 88 percent - support the allocation of tax revenue to fund Israeli experience programs such as Masa and birthright.
The telephone survey taken also indicated that 55 percent gives the highest rating – 10 – to the importance of Israel-Diaspora relations, 78 percent of those polled are interested in media reports concerning Diaspora Jewish communities or issues pertaining to Israel-Diaspora relations and 25 percent believe that increased media coverage of Diaspora communities in the Israeli media will most strengthen their personal connection to Diaspora Jewry.
B'nai B'rith World Center Chairman Dr. Haim V Katz and director Alan Schneider said the findings clearly indicated the high importance given to the Israel-Diaspora relationship by most Israelis and the need to continue to nurture it as a component of Israel’s national security.
“It is very significant that so many Israelis are ready for their tax money to be allocated for Israel experience programs for Diaspora youth – activity that they view as a first order of priority in fortifying Israel-Diaspora relations,” they said in a statement.
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