Recently, the Likud party has engaged in increasingly divisive tactics of the issues of egalitarian access to the Kotel. However, a new poll conducted among Likud voters (posted on the Hebrew-language website Walla!) reveals a slightly different picture from the negative statements made by some of the party's senior officials toward the non-Orthodox streams. Some 71% of Likud voters support the State of Israel recognizing all streams of Judaism, compared with 29% who oppose it, and 66% believe that the state should invest "significant resources" in connection with the Diaspora.

The Israeli Reform Movement says they intend to present the findings of the survey to all members of the Likud Knesset and to the heads of the party's branches. "Unfortunately, some of the Likud's elected officials ignore this fact and choose to submit to extreme pressure groups that take control of power centers in the ruling party," said Rabbi Gilad Kariv, President and CEO of the Israel Movement for Reform & Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), who said that the poll results indicate that a 5 large part of the party's voters believe in freedom of religion and pluralism. "There is no reason for the party to align itself with extremist and controversial elements. We hope that Likud supporters will act to change the sad reality."

Highlights:

Do you support recognition by the state of Israel of all streams of Judaism?

Support- 71%

Against- 29%





Do you support the creation of a legal civil marriage track to function alongside the marriage by the chief rabbinate?

Support- 63%

Against 30%

Don’t Know- 7%

Do you support limited public transportation on Shabbat?

Support- 64%

Against- 29%

Don’t know- 7%