Hiddush Index: 64% of Israeli Jews Demand Coalition Without Haredi Dictates

On the eve of the High Holy Days, the Hiddush Association for Religious Freedom and Equality published its 18th annual Religion and State Index. The findings present an unequivocal picture of a deep chasm between the current government's policies and the positions of the vast majority of the adult Jewish public in Israel.

According to the survey, 64% of respondents support the establishment of a broad civil coalition after the next elections—one that would operate either without the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) parties or integrate them without acceding to their demands on religion and state issues, such as military draft exemptions, blocking public transportation on Shabbat, and funding religious institutions.

This demand for a coalition that does not yield to Haredi dictates crosses sectors: 86% of secular, 63% of non-religious traditional, 60% of close-to-religion traditional, and 45% of religious Jews share this stance.

Surge in Support for Equal Burden of Service

The issue of equality in sharing the national burden, which has become the focal point of public and political discourse since the outbreak of the war on October 7, shows a clear radicalization in public demand for a comprehensive solution.

Today, 84% of the Jewish public supports the enlistment of yeshiva students in one form or another, compared to 80% last year and 75% in 2022.

• 53% of respondents demand full enlistment of everyone into regular military service or essential national service based on IDF needs.

• 31% of respondents are satisfied with exemption quotas for outstanding scholars.

• Only 16% of the public currently accepts the Haredi position exempting yeshiva students from military service.

Notably, even among the Haredim themselves, 18% support either quotas or full enlistment.

Furthermore, the public overwhelmingly sides with the Supreme Court and the Attorney General on the issue of sanctions: 66% support enforcement measures—including freezing budgets and arresting draft evaders—compared to only 34% who support government attempts to block arrests and bypass funding restrictions.

Demands for Educational and Draft Reforms

Public criticism is not limited to the Haredi community. Sixty-four percent of respondents believe that Hesder yeshiva students should be required to serve a full term of 30 months, similar to other IDF soldiers, thereby abolishing the shortened service track which currently lasts only 17 months.

Additionally, 59% support the complete abolition of the automatic exemption granted to young women who declare themselves religious, which has led to widespread false declarations. Another 31% believe the exemption should continue but under tighter supervision.

Regarding education, the Israeli public shows a distinct lack of tolerance for funding institutions that refuse to teach core curriculum subjects (Liba):

"76% support cutting budgets for Haredi schools that refuse to teach core subjects and participate in external exams (55% demand a total cutoff of funding, and 21% support a 50% reduction)."

Furthermore, 77% believe that any connection between educational institutions and political parties must be completely severed, funding to law-breaking institutions stopped, and those responsible prosecuted, particularly regarding the Shas and United Torah Judaism education networks.

Shift in Likud's Voter Base

One of the most prominent political findings in the index points to a profound shift in the ruling party's support base. There is a significant gap between those who voted for Likud in the last elections and those who declare they would vote for the party today.

On every civil issue examined, current Likud voters hold more conservative views:

• Support for a coalition without yielding to Haredi demands: 54% among past voters, compared to only 41% among current voters.

• Sanctions against draft evaders: 56% of past voters support them, compared to 40% today.

• Separation of religion and state: 44% of past voters in favor, compared to 29% today.

Conversely, regarding attacks on the judiciary, the picture is reversed: while 51% of past Likud voters found statements against the Supreme Court and the Attorney General acceptable, support for these attacks jumps to 69% among current voters.

Public Trust in State Institutions

Despite sharp attacks by elected officials, the Supreme Court leads in public trust among state institutions with 30% high trust—three times the trust in the Knesset (10%), and nearly double the trust in the government (18%) and the Chief Rabbinate (15%). However, a concerning 43% of the public state they have no trust in any of these institutions.

Regarding social rifts, 81% rank the tension between Right and Left as one of the two most severe conflicts in Israel, followed closely by the tension between Haredim and secular Israelis at 74%.

Rabbi Uri Regev, CEO of Hiddush, criticized the political establishment following the findings:

"The government repeatedly claims to represent the will of the people, and this index proves exactly the opposite. On every single issue examined, a vast majority of the Jewish public stands in opposition to the government's stance. But the truth must also be said about the change camp: its opposition to the Haredi parties is fueled by the draft law struggle far more than by a genuine vision for Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. The public is not asking for a localized achievement; it demands full religious freedom and equality in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence."

The Hiddush Religion and State Index survey was conducted by the Smith Institute between July 13 and 16, 2026, among a representative sample of 800 adult Jewish Israelis (maximum margin of error: 3.3%).