62% said to prefer gov’t without Haredim

A survey conducted on behalf of Hiddush, an organization promoting freedom of religion in Israel, finds 62% of Israelis prefer a government without ultra-Orthodox parties. Additionally, 87% would like to see Moshe Kahlon’s Kulanu in control of the Knesset’s Finance Committee.

According to the poll, only 13% support giving control of the Finance Committee to UTJ. Both parties, Kulanu and UTJ, want the head of the committee to come from their party.

Kulanu seeks control of the Finance Ministry as well as the Finance Committee, but media reports indicate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks a compromise by which UTJ will head the committee in return for a commitment to advance reforms planned by future finance minister Moshe Kahlon.

The Internet survey polled approximately 500 Israelis representing the state’s adult Jewish population.

The results of the survey are in harmony with the aims of Hiddush, which seeks to wrest control of various aspects of Jewish life, including marriage and education, away from the Haredi rabbinate.