JERUSALEM: Some two thirds of Israeli Jews believe Arab citizens should have no say on security or diplomacy issues as long as the conflict with the Palestinians lingers, a poll showed on Tuesday.
The findings, part of an annual survey conducted on the state of democracy in Israel, were presented to President Shimon Peres by the Israel Democracy Institute, a local think tank.
"Almost two thirds (62 percent) of Jews believe that as long as Israel is embroiled in a conflict with the Palestinians, it is forbidden to take into account the views of Israel’s Arab citizens on issues of security and foreign affairs," the survey found.
The survey sought to uncover attitudes to democracy and tolerance in the Jewish state, which it described as "divided with social cleavages that are not improving."
The survey found that 86 percent of the Jewish population believes that decisions critical to the fate of the country need to be accepted by a Jewish majority only.
Arab citizens, who make up 20 percent of the population, have long complained of systematic discrimination in resources and opportunities.
Israel’s 1.3 million Arab citizens are Palestinians who remained in the country following the creation of the Jewish state in 1948, along with their descendants.
The survey also found that 53 percent of Jews support government incentives to Arabs, encouraging them to emigrate.
The survey, conducted among 1,203 participants, also looked at tolerance of other groups.
Asked who they were opposed to having as neighbours, 46 percent of Jews said they did not want Arab neighbours, 39 percent opposed living next to foreign workers, 25 percent were against homosexuals and 23 percent did not want the ultra-Orthodox.
Among the Arab population, 70 percent objected to homosexual neighbours, 67 percent did not want ultra-Orthodox living next door and 65 percent would reject former settlers.
