Measuring Attitudes of Israelis Towards Human Rights

Issues and OrganizationsA Benchmark Survey

3 December 2008

Poll Methodology

• Conducted by KEEVOON Research• 503 Jewish Israelis• 25 Questions• 27 Nov. – 1 Dec. 2008• Telephone survey• Representative, random sample• + / - 4.5% Margin of Error

Main Findings• Human Rights issues are VERY important to Israelis• “NGO brand” is weak in Israel• No clear favorite among NGOs• Israel perceived as BETTER on Human Rights than neighbors

and other Western Democracies• Correlation between age, education, religious observance• Israelis think that publicizing human rights violations hurts

Israel• NGOs are perceived as favoring Palestinians & biased against

Israel• Israelis want to know where source funding for NGOs comes• Israelis believe their own GOVT agencies over NGO reports

On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being VERY LITTLE and 10 being VERY MUCH, how important is the

issue of HUMAN RIGHTS in Israel to you personally?

1 – 55%

6 - 76%

8 - 1089%

59% chose 10

Results of those who answered 10, VERY MUCH

Misc.• 67% European/US born• 67% Residents of south• 67% Women (52% Men)• 64% Haredim (43% Religious)• 61% Secular & Traditional• 17% Soldiers

2006 Vote• 85% Shas• 77% Pensioners• 73% Meretz• 71% UTJ• 67% Likud• 63% Kadima• 57% Labor• 49% Yisrael Beiteinu• 35% NRP

Of the following NGOs that deal with Human Rights issues in Israel, which do you think is the most reliable?

Non-Governmental Organizations are private entities with an interest in a specific issue.

Do you think that these NGOs are RELIABLE or UNRELIABLE as a source for monitoring Human Rights issues in Israel?

TOTALS

Very RELIABLE9%

Somewhat RELIABLE43%52%

Somewhat UNRELIABLE18%

Very UNRELIABLE16%34%

Don’t Know / Refuse14%

Do you think that these NGOs are RELIABLE or UNRELIABLE as a source for monitoring Human Rights issues in Israel?

• Difference of Men and Women– RELIABLE: Men = 46% vs. Women = 58%– UNRELIABLE: Men = 39% vs. Women = 30%

• Difference based on education– RELIABLE: ELEM = 28% vs. BA = 65% vs. MA/PHD = 58%– UNRELIABLE: ELEM = 62% vs. BA = 27% vs. MA/PHD = 37%

• By 2006 vote: RELIABLE– 84% Meretz– 72% Pensioners– 65% Labor, Yisrael Beiteinu– 53% UTJ– 51% Kadima– 49% NRP– 45% Likud– 34% Shas

Do you think that the State of Israel is BETTER or WORSE than other Middle Eastern countries at protecting its citizens’ and residents’ Human Rights?

Israel is BETTER than other Middle Eastern Countries

• By education– ELEM = 67% vs. BA = 88% vs. MA/PHD = 91%

• By religious observance– Secular = 84% vs. Trad. = 81% vs. Rel. = 90% vs. Haredi = 78%

• 89% of soldiers

• By 2006 vote– 94% of Meretz, 90% of Kadima & Labor, 87% of NRP, 85% of

Likud & Shas, 80% of Yisrael Beiteinu, 68% of Pensioners, 63% of UTJ

Do you think that the State of Israel is BETTER or WORSE than other Western Democracies

at protecting its citizens’ and residents’ Human Rights?

BETTER or WORSE than other Western Democracies - AGE

BETTER or WORSE than other Western Democracies - RELIGION

Israel Protecting Human Rights as Compared to Middle East and Western Countries

On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being “don’t believe at all” and 10 being “very much believe,” how much do you believe the reports put out by

organizations like Amnesty International, Machsom Watch and B’Tselem?

1 – 431%

5 - 747%

8 - 1022%

17% Answered 1, Only 3% Answered 10

Sometimes Human Rights NGOs publish reports highlighting Israel’s Human Rights violations. These are covered in the international media. Some people say it helps Israel’s image because it shows that Israel is an open democratic society constantly striving to correct injustices. Others say it damages Israel’s image because it shows

claims that Israel violates people’s Human Rights. In your view, does publicizing Israel’s alleged human rights violations HELP or HURT Israel’s image abroad.

It HELPS Israel’s image abroad18%

It HURTS Israel’s image abroad68%

No effect5%

Don’t know / refuse9%

Do you think that Human Rights NGOs are equally concerned with Israelis and Palestinians,

or do they favor one over the other?

The European Union provides tens of millions of dollars to Israeli and Palestinian NGOs that pursue a political agenda related to the conflict. This includes paying for

large newspaper adverts, organizing demonstrations and initiating law suits. Would you SUPPORT or OPPOSE a legal requirement that activities by such NGOs

include a clear public statement on the source of this funding?

SUPPORT for Legal Requirement for Source of Funding of NGOsby 2006 Vote

• 82% of Meretz• 80% of Pensioners• 78% of Labor• 74% of NRP/National Union• 68% of Kadima• 64% of Yisrael Beiteinu• 63% of UTJ• 57% of Likud• 50% of Shas

SUPPORT or OPPOSE publicizing funding source - EDUCATION

The European Union provides tens of millions of dollars to Israeli and Palestinian NGOs that pursue a political agenda related to the conflict. This includes paying for

large newspaper adverts, organizing demonstrations and initiating law suits. Would you SUPPORT or OPPOSE Knesset legislation that would prohibit Israeli organizations from accepting funding from a foreign government for political

activities?

In 2007, Amnesty International released more reports condemning Israel than it did condemning either the Palestinian Authority, or Hamas, or Syria, or Saudi Arabia, or

Libya, or Lebanon, or Hezbollah or Iraq.Having heard this fact, do you think that Amnesty International is RELIABLE or

UNRELIABLE as a source for monitoring Human Rights issues in Israel?

In 2001 the UN sponsored the Durban Conference which brought together 4,000 participants from 1,500 NGOs from all over the world. One of the most important

outcomes of that conference was a declaration published that referred to Israel as an “apartheid and racist state” and called for an economic boycott.

As a result do you think ……..

Human Rights NGOs by their nature are biased against Israel64%

There is some truth in their declaration that Israel is an apartheid and racist state23%

Don’t Know / Refuse13%

The US State Department and World Bank often utilize reports of NGOs on Israeli-Palestinian issues to formulate policy and understand the situation on

the ground better. Do you think that ……

It is acceptable for the US State Department and World Bank to utilize reports from Human Rights NGOs operating in Israel

32%

The US State Department and World Bank should use their own reports exclusively44%

Don’t know /Refuse24%

Are you more likely to believe a human rights NGO regarding a human rights violation, or are you more likely to believe

the claims of the IDF or another official state authority?

For More Information

NGO Monitor

Prof. Gerald Steinberg1 Ben Maimon Street

JerusalemTel: 02-561-9112

Email: mail@ngo-monitor.org

www.ngo-monitor.org

KEEVOON Research

Mitchell Barak2 Beitar Street

JerusalemTel: 02-672-0010

Email: info@keevoon.com

www.keevoon.com