Peace Index - September 2023
The Struggle over the Judicial Overhaul
- Similar to many other surveys on the issue of the judicial overhaul, it is evident that the changes the government is advancing in the judicial system are not popular: An absolute majority of the respondents (51%) oppose them, while only about a third (37%) support them and about 12% do not know what their position is. As expected, these differences of opinion reflect the main political divide in the country. Thus, the changes are supported by the majority of coalition voters and those who identify as right-wing in terms of security, while a clear majority of opposition voters and those who identify security-wise as center or left are opposed.
- Among the opponents of the changes, there is agreement that the protest should deal with a variety of social and political issues and not only with eliminating the changes in the judicial system. However, alongside agreement on the protection of the judicial system, certain differences are evident in the priorities of Jewish and Arab respondents, in particular in matters relating to the military and the conflict. On the one hand, the opponents of the legislation from both groups agree that the protest should also deal with the government's handling of violence in Arab society. On the other hand, Jewish respondents would like the protest also to focus on equal recruitment for military or national service, while Arab respondents are divided on this question. At the same time, most of the Arab respondents would like the protest to deal with the issue of the conflict and control over the Palestinians, while on this issue the Jewish respondents are hesitant and divided.
