What do Israelis think about immigrants? A new survey, commissioned by the Immigration and Absorption Ministry, reveals something of a love-hate relationship.
The majority of the population — some 73% — thinks that immigration is vital for the state. This is presumably primarily due to what many Israelis consider the need to boost the Jewish demographic in Israel.
Nevertheless, Israelis see a clash between national and personal priorities. Some 30% of Israeli-born respondents think that immigration makes it harder to find housing and 35% think that makes it tougher to find work.
Immigrants are also thought responsible for crime, with 52% of Israeli-born respondents saying that immigrants have a negative effect on crime. The high figure on crime may well be connected to recent the arrest of immigrants for high-profile crimes and the ensuing discussion about immigration laws and crime, which was reported here.
