Last update - 00:00 02/11/2006
Poll shows sharp drop in public's confidence in the state
By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent
About 80 percent of the public say the corruption among Israel's political leaders prevents them from taking pride in their state.
This is one of the strongest statements in a broad survey designed to measure social strength.
The Social Strength Index, measured before next week's Sderot Conference for Society, also reflects a serious deterioration in public faith in the state and its institutions, including the Israel Defense Forces.
In 2003, 27 percent of the public said they do not trust public institutions to help them in a time of need. That rate nearly doubled this year to 51 percent.
This fourth annual survey found that 70 percent of the public believes the state does not enable its citizens to have reasonable housing, up from 65 percent in 2005.
Also, 70 percent do not believe the state allows its citizens to retire with dignity, up from 64 percent in 2005.
The public is not only suspicious of the civilian establishment. One-quarter of the public do not trust the IDF and another 25 percent have only average trust in the military. More than half of respondents, 55 percent, believe the state offers them and their families only minimum or mediocre security, compared to 40 percent who felt that way in 2005.
Almost half the respondents, or 46 percent, did not trust their local government.
There is also no great faith in the Histadrut labor federation - 48 percent don't trust the national labor union, up from 46 percent last year.
"This index is a cry for Israeli leadership with values and vision," according to ret. Major General Uzi Dayan, chair of the Sderot Conference for Society, slated to open Tuesday at Sderot's Sapir College.
The survey was conducted last month among 1,111 adult Israelis.
The institution with the lowest public confidence rating is the political party, with just 13 percent of the public trusting the party for which they voted.
The police also doesn't engender confidence - only 16 percent trust, down from 2005's 19 percent, and only 25 percent trust the court system, lower than last year's 30 percent.
The public has the most confidence in family and friends with 74 percent trusting their immediate circle.
Asked what bothers them most about Israeli society, 80 percent listed public corruption, up 6 percent over last year. In addition, 73 percent noted poverty, with a similar response for violence and the conflict with the Palestinians.
The only figure that improved over last year's index was the economic situation, although many are still concerned.
About 52 percent said they are concerned they will not be able to save for the future, compared to 62 percent last year.
About a quarter said their standard of living is lower than reasonable, better than last year when 35 percent felt that way.
A majority of 57 percent felt their income level permits them to enjoy a reasonable standard of living; the average income respondents felt allowed that was NIS 13,656.
Nonetheless 73 percent believe Israel is the best place for Israelis to live, up from last year's 67 percent.