A recent study conducted by the Hebrew University among a thousand people, half of whom are ultra-Orthodox and half are non-religious, yielded a result that would be amusing if it weren't so sad. It turns out that each group believes, in fairly similar proportions, that it is discriminated against compared to its peers.
For example, 92% of the non-religious believe that they are discriminated against compared to the Haredim in state budgets, while 90% of the Haredim believe exactly the opposite – that the Haredim are discriminated against compared to the non-religious public.
The same mirror image also emerges when it comes to whether the police are over-enforcing in your sector. 95% of the Haredim believe that the police are discriminating against the Haredim by over-enforcing the Corona guidelines, while the non-religious public is convinced that the opposite is true.
An exercise in manipulation
When every sector feels discriminated against, it is clear that there is a distortion of reality. To a large extent, this distortion is caused by the media.
In both sectors, the media intensifies feelings of resentment and deprivation, and thus each sector becomes increasingly convinced that it is the one being discriminated against, while the other sector celebrates at its own expense.
Take, for example, the article that aired last weekend about the alleged discrimination of Haredim in flight permits. This is a clear example of poor media manipulation. The article was even titled 'Investigation', when there is no investigation and no data. How easy it is to film a few Haredim leaving Ben Gurion Airport to the sound of a narration: more Haredim, more Haredim, almost only Haredim, and paint a picture as if only the Haredim are really receiving the approval of the Exceptions Committee.
It would have been just as easy to write a completely opposite article. Take photos of non-religious people leaving the terminal, quote an anonymous person named Oved Basde, who says that supposedly 991% of the passengers are non-religious, cut out a few sentences from fragmented interviews, and here you have an article that convinces you to believe that the ultra-Orthodox are the ones being discriminated against, who are not allowed to board planes.
Let's call the child by his name – this is incitement and smearing of one public against another. No public channel would broadcast such an article against the Arabs.
For example, when have you seen an investigative report examining the crime rate of Arabs, compared to their share in the population? Here, even if there is certainly room for research and presentation of data – no one will allow such a report to be broadcast, because it is 'incitement' and 'racism.'.
But against Haredim it is permitted, because for some reason it does not disturb the sensitive moral compass of these righteous people.
There is hope.
In the run-up to the elections, this incitement intensifies, because there are those who ride on it in an attempt to garner votes. But it is worth remembering that hatred and hostility do not build a healthy society. In the end, even after the elections, everyone will remain here, and we must find a way to live together.
The study mentioned at the beginning also carries a ray of light. Most respondents want there to be more closeness with the other sector. They may feel that they are hated, but they declare that they do not hate their colleagues on the other side.
Here our deep common denominator is revealed – ultimately we all want to be one, united people. We just need to uncover this point of connection.
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