January 06, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in Israel hold dissimilar views on pregnancy termination, according to a poll by the Mutagim Institute. 39 per cent of respondents think abortion, when necessary, is a legitimate medical procedure, 31 per cent regard it as an especially painful last resort, and 30 per cent say it is equivalent to murder.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in Israel hold dissimilar views on pregnancy termination, according to a poll by the Mutagim Institute. 39 per cent of respondents think abortion, when necessary, is a legitimate medical procedure, 31 per cent regard it as an especially painful last resort, and 30 per cent say it is equivalent to murder.

While 32 per cent of respondents believe abortion is never justified, 55 per cent would consent to the procedure if the fetus carried a grave illness. Support is markedly lower for the termination of an unwanted pregnancy, or for abortions performed due to financial difficulties or when the fetus was not of the sex desired by the parents.

Last month, Israeli lawmaker Nissim Zeev of the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) proposed outlawing abortion in Israel after the first 22 weeks of gestation. In the country, abortions are authorized by a special committee, which usually allows the procedure in cases of rape, incest or adultery, if the woman is under 17 years of age or over 40, if the woman’s physical or mental well-being could be jeopardized by the pregnancy, or if the fetus has a suspected physical or mental defect.

Zeev explained his rationale for the changes, saying, "At 22 weeks, the fetus is alive. Terminating the pregnancy at that point constitutes murder and not an ‘abortion’. It is an unfounded claim that limiting abortions interferes with a woman’s freedom and right over her own body—we are talking about granting life."

Polling Data

Which of these statements comes closest to your own view on abortion?

Abortion, when necessary, is a legitimate medical procedure	39%
Abortion is an especially painful last resort	31%
Abortion is equivalent to murder	30%

In which of these circumstances would an abortion be justified?
(Several answers allowed)

If the fetus carried a grave illness	55%
If the pregnancy was unplanned	21%
Due to financial difficulties	13%
If the fetus was not of the sex desired by the parents	5%
Abortion is never justified	32%

Source: Mutagim Institute
Methodology: Interviews with 512 Israeli adults, conducted in December 2007. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.