60% of Jewish Israelis fear struggle against judicial overhaul will end in violence

Some 60% of Jewish Israelis think that there is a high to certain likelihood that opposition to the government’s plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary will end in violence, while 35% of the population fear civil war, according to a poll published today.

The survey by the  Jewish People Policy Institute says the fear of violence exists equally across the political spectrum.

Only 31% think the chance of such an outcome is low or not possible.

“These numbers appear unrealistic at first glance, but in fact, as we double and triple checked, we found that Israelis don’t think the possibility of some sort of violent conflict is just political rhetoric or media spin; it’s a real concern,” says JPPI President Yedidia Stern.

The poll, which has a margin of error of 4%, was conducted among a representative sample of 600 Israeli Jewish adults, January 30-31, 2023.

However, a similar recent poll found that only 31% thought violence was likely.

The Netanyahu coalition is pushing a dramatic judicial restructuring that would increase government control over the judiciary. Critics say that along with other planned legislation, the sweeping reforms will impact Israel’s democratic character by upsetting its system of checks and balances, granting almost all power to the executive branch, and leaving individual rights unprotected and minorities undefended.

The plan has drawn intense criticism and warnings from leading financial and legal experts, as well as weekly mass protests and public petitions by various officials, professionals, and private companies.

Netanyahu has pushed back against the criticism, saying that the proposals would strengthen democracy rather than hasten its end, and that his government was carrying out the will of the people.