Construction of Minarets on Mosques in IsraelNational Religious and Ultra-Orthodox are Strongest

The full press release follows:January 7, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERevealing Opinion Poll Concludes:
ISRAELIS MORE TOLERANT OF ISLAM THAN SWISSOppose “Swiss-style” Legislation that Would Ban Construction of Minarets on Mosques in IsraelNational Religious and Ultra-Orthodox are Strongest Opponents of Banning Minaret Construction(Jerusalem) – A survey conducted in recent days by The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) through KEEVOON Research found that 43% of Israelis would oppose legislation banning the construction of minarets on Mosques built in Israel while 28% would support a ban, with 29% undecided. In November 2009, 57.5% of voters in Switzerland approved a referendum banning the construction of minarets on Mosques in their country.The strongest opposition to banning minarets came from National Religious Israelis. 72% of them opposed possible legislation in Israel of whom 55% defined themselves as “strongly” opposed. Among Ultra-Orthodox (Hareidi) opposition was 53%, compared to 42% of secular Israelis, and 36% of traditional Israelis. Only 16% of the National Religious would support banning minarets compared to 21% of Ultra-Orthodox, 31% of traditional Jews and 29% of secular Jews.