Friday, August 22, 2014

Three-quarters of Israeli Jews and nearly two-thirds of Israeli Arabs would not marry someone from a different religion, according to a poll

The poll found that opposition to interfaith relationships was highest among ultra-Orthodox Jews, at 95%. But 88% of traditional and religious Jews, as well as 64% of secular Jews, also opposed such relationships. Seventy-one percent of Muslim Israeli Arabs opposed interfaith relationships; half of Christian Israeli Arabs were opposed. Across religious denominations, Israeli Jews would be much more opposed to their relatives marrying Arabs than they would be to relatives marrying non-Arab non-Jews. Only a third of secular Jewish Israelis would be opposed to a relative marrying an American or European Christian, but a majority would oppose a relative marrying an Arab. Seventy-two percent of Israeli Jews overall would be opposed to a relative marrying an Arab. Opposition to intermarriage was lowest among immigrants from the former Soviet Union. More than half would avoid having a relationship with a non-Jew, but if they were to fall in love with a non-Jew, only 35% would insist their spouse convert. Two-thirds of Israeli Jews see intermarriage as a serious threat to Jews worldwide, and one-third see it as a serious threat to Jews in Israel.

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