Israel

's religious public is distancing itself from the memorial for slain Prime Minister

Yitzhak Rabin

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A survey conducted ahead of the tragic incident's 16th anniversary shows that only 26% of religious Jews identify with this day.

The poll was commissioned by the Tzav Pius organization, which works to promote mutual understanding among Israeli Jews, through the Zeta Tools research institute. It reveals that 65% of seculars and 61% of traditional Jews identify with the Rabin memorial.

About 50% of the public see a radicalization in religious-secular relations since the murder. Forty-two percent believe the relations have remained unchanged, while 8% say the two sectors have gotten closer.

The feeling of polarization is more noticeable among the secular and traditional public than among the religious and haredi public. Sixty percent of secular Jews see a radicalization, compared to only 32% of religious Jews. About half of skullcap wearers believe relations have remained unchanged.

Aliza Gershon Director Aliza Gershon said in response to the findings, "The survey supports our working assumption that the polarization in the Israeli society has been growing since Prime Minister Rabin's murder. This trend leads to alienation between different groups in our society and threatens our social and national strength.

"We seek to lead a move which will turn the national day of mourning over an Israeli prime minister's murder into an event connecting the different sectors and strengthening the ethos shared by the entire society."

The memorial rally marking the 16th anniversary of Rabin's murder will be held this Saturday evening at 7:30 pm at Tel Aviv's Rabin Square, after being postponed from last Saturday due to the rainy weather.

Reuven Weiss and Itamar Eichner contributed to this report