Poll Shows Most Israelis Support Government’s Position in Negotiations with Arabs

An overwhelming majority of Israelis support their government’s position in negotiations with the Arabs, according to a Louis Harris poll commissioned by Time magazine and made public in its new issue out tomorrow. Harris, who conducted the poll jointly with Public Opinion Research, an Israeli firm, found that 85 percent of Israeli Jews believe the Meir government “is doing all it should to negotiate a peace treaty.” Only seven percent of those questioned felt the government should be more flexible in negotiating with the Arabs, Time reported. Other polls conducted or commissioned by Time to probe Israeli attitudes found that only 25 percent of Israeli Jews admit that prejudice exists against Arabs. But “the highest government job the majority is willing to give an Arab at the present time is a low-level civil service position.” Time said.

The magazine also reported a lessening religious commitment by Israeli Jews. Only 13 percent of those polled defined themselves as religious; 40 percent said they were non-religious and 47 percent described themselves as “traditionalists” who observed at least the major holy days. “Of college graduates, 53 percent think religion plays too great a role in Israel. Less educated Jews are less complaining.” The poll on foreign policy showed that Israeli Jews “give stunning support to the government position that the occupied territories of East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and Sharm el-Sheikh should be retained by Israel in any settlement,” Time reported. “If any U.S., Soviet or Arab policymakers assume that there is a significant dove faction in Israel they appear sorely mistaken.”