The country has no formal constitution. The law states that every person is entitled to freedom of religion and conscience and that a person shall not be prejudiced in his occupation on account of observing the precepts of his religion. In addition, a person shall suffer no deprivation of rights, imposition of obligations or enforcement of prohibitions against him on grounds only of religion.
Although the majority of Israeli Jews are not observant, orthodox Jews control the swing vote in the Knessett, giving them considerable power. The law provides for freedom of religion, and the Government respects this right. Approximately 81 percent of the citizens are ethnically Jewish. Muslims, Christians, Druze, and members of other religions make up the remaining 19 percent. Each recognized religious community has legal authority over its members in matters of marriage and divorce. This results in prohibitions of marriages between Jews and Christians, to the dismay of many secular Jews.
Missionaries are allowed to evangelize in Israel, but their activities are limited. Mormons are specifically prohibited from converting Israelis to their religion by mutual agreement between the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints and the Government. A 1977 anti-proselytizing law prohibits anyone from offering or receiving material benefits as an inducement to conversion, but the law has not been applied for several years.
2003 US State Department International Religious Freedom Report on Israel
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