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From the Legal Trenches

From the Legal Trenches

1. Freedom of Marriage: In the last newsletter we reported on Hiddush’s legal breakthrough, which brought Israel closer than ever before to realizing freedom of marriage.


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74% Israeli public prefers civil government coalition

74% Israeli public prefers civil government coalition

74% of the Israeli public prefers a civil government based on a partnership between Likud and the Blue-&-White party, independent of the ultra-Orthodox parties’ dictates. 68% of the Israeli public wants the party it votes for to fight for the advancement of religious freedom and equality of the civic burden.

78% support marriage or registration for same-sex couples

78% support marriage or registration for same-sex couples

More than half of the Zionist Orthodox public (54%) supports the establishment of recognized same-sex partnerships. 73% of the general public believes that if marriage or registration for same-sex couples were to be recognized in Israel, these couples must have all or most of the rights of all other couples.

Most Israelis prefer a unity gov't with Likud and Blue & White

Most Israelis prefer a unity gov't with Likud and Blue & White

66% of the public prefers a Likud-Blue-&-White coalition to promote freedom of religion and equality, rather than a narrow government dependent on the ultra-Orthodox.

65% Israelis want a civil government

65% Israelis want a civil government

65% of the adult Jewish public wants a civil government, which is not dependent on the ultra-Orthodox parties, and which could promote freedom of religion and equality of the civic burden.

63% want a civil Coalition without Haredi parties

63% want a civil Coalition without Haredi parties

After the drama and the clarification of the political map, the public expects to hear more than rhetoric from the right and the left. The Jewish public wants the parties to promote freedom of religion and equality of the burden - not just crumbs such as providing public transportation on the Sabbath.

52% more likely to vote for a party that commits to religious freedom

52% more likely to vote for a party that commits to religious freedom

64% of undecided voters said that they are more likely to vote for a party that will commit itself to promoting freedom of religion and equality of civic burden. So too, 52% of the adult Jewish public.

International Human Rights Day survey: Israelis support marriage freedom

International Human Rights Day survey: Israelis support marriage freedom

On December 10th the world is marking International Human Rights day. Hiddush looked into one of the main violations of human rights in Israel, which ironically mostly harms Jews: The right to marry!

Israel's (and New York’s) Yeshiva Students Deserve Better

Israel's (and New York’s) Yeshiva Students Deserve Better

One of the key areas that the 2018 Israel Religion & State Index points to is the strong resentment and objection among the Israeli Jewish population in the face of the refusal of the leadership of the ultra-Orthodox community to allow a proper and effective instruction of core curricular studies in their boys’ schools.

2018 Israel Religion & State Index

2018 Israel Religion & State Index

As in previous years, as Rosh HaShanah approaches, Hiddush is proud to publish its annual Israel Religion & State Index, now in its tenth year.

84% want to enshrine the principle of equality into a Constitutional Law

84% want to enshrine the principle of equality into a Constitutional Law

Contrary to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s refusal – 84% of the public wants to anchor the principle of equality into a Constitutional Law. Also: parties that herald giving the Declaration of Independence constitutional force would receive additional public support.

Hiddush blocks Chief Rabbi's conflict of interest

Hiddush blocks Chief Rabbi's conflict of interest

This week, Hiddush received a statement from the Office of the Attorney General, confirming that our request had been received and that detailed instructions had been given to the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, regarding the official restrictions imposed upon him in his handling of kashrut issues due to a conflict of interest.

81% support same-sex marriage or couples' registrations

81% support same-sex marriage or couples' registrations

Most of the public supports the state's recognition of same-sex marriage and their right to have children.

Chabad's illegal outreach at Ben Gurion Airport

Chabad's illegal outreach at Ben Gurion Airport

Chabad Lubavitch is a unique phenomenon in Jewish history and the Jewish community. Much can and should be said in their praise, but at the same time, it should be recognized that both theologically and operationally they are highly controversial.

Politicians attempt to castrate the Supreme Court

Politicians attempt to castrate the Supreme Court

The Israeli public trusts the Supreme Court, not Israel's politicians, according to a survey recently commissioned by Hiddush, in light of politicians' recent attempt to castrate the High Court of Justice, in order to prevent the Court from mandating that the State of Israel enlist yeshiva students and to allow the Government Coalition to enact additional discriminatory laws according to the ultra-Orthodox parties' demands without fear of these being ruled illegal by the High Court of Justice.

Hiddush on the battlefront

Hiddush on the battlefront

This week we started action on behalf of a former Haredi man who is serving in the IDF and faces discrimination, as well as on behalf of a school and a PTA who have confronted a zealous religious fundamentalist who is trying to tempt their students to "experience Judaism" his way.

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