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The Jewish Home (Hebrew: הַבַּיִת הַיְהוּדִי, romanized: HaBeit HaYehudi) was an Orthodox Jewish, religious Zionist and far-right political party in Israel.[8] It was originally formed by a merger of the National Religious Party, Moledet and Tkuma in November 2008. However, Moledet broke away from the party after its top representative was placed 17th on the new party's list for the 2009 Knesset elections, and instead ran on a joint list with HaTikva. Tkuma later also left to join the National Union.

For the 2013 elections, the Jewish Home and Tkuma parties ran a joint list under the leadership of the chairman of the Jewish Home, Naftali Bennett.[9] The party ran with Tkuma again in the 2015 elections.[10] In April 2019, Jewish Home ran on a joint list with Tkuma and Otzma Yehudit. The parties registered under the name Union of Right-Wing Parties. The party ran on a joint list (named Yamina) with Tkuma and the New Right in the September 2019 Israeli legislative election, though the joint list split into two factions on 10 October. Yamina ran again in the 2020 Israeli legislative election. Party leader Rafi Peretz announced on 5 January 2021 that he was retiring from politics and was succeeded by Hagit Moshe as the leader of the party on 19 January 2021. In 2023, the Jewish Home and the Religious Zionist Party agreed to merge to become a single party, National Religious Party–Religious Zionism.

History

[edit]
First logo of the Jewish Home from 2009, when it was known as 'The Jewish Home – The New Mafdal'

Formation

[edit]

The National Religious Party (NRP) and the National Union alliance ran a joint list for the 2006 Knesset elections. On 3 November 2008 it was announced that the NRP and the Moledet and Tkuma factions of the National Union would merge to form a new party.[11] However, the Ahi and HaTikva factions of the Union rejected the merger—their leaders, Effi Eitam and Aryeh Eldad, respectively, were both opposed to the party being a purely religious one,[12] while Eitam was also unhappy that the new party would not hold primaries.[13]

Initial logo of the united list of The Jewish Home and the National Union

The party was initially nameless. Five names were proposed: HaBayit HaYehudi ("Jewish Home"), Shorashim ("Roots"), Atzma'ut ("Independence"), Shalem ("Whole"), and Amihai ("My Nation Lives"). In an online ballot, the members chose "Jewish Home".[14]

Yaakov Amidror was chosen to head a public committee formed to choose the party's list for the 2009 elections.[11] On 8 December 2008, Rabbi Professor Daniel Hershkowitz, a mathematician from the Technion, was chosen to head the new party.[15]

When Jewish Home announced its candidate list for the upcoming elections, five of the top six slots went to ex-NRP members. MK Uri Ariel of Tkuma was the sole exception: He received the third slot. Polls then indicated Jewish Home would get five to seven seats, thus making the first six spaces highly contested. The ex-National Union members again complained. Ex-Moledet MK Benny Elon stated that he would not seek re-election, and was replaced on the candidate list by American immigrant Uri Bank. The remaining Moledet members broke away, and allied with HaTikva in a revived Union (Bank also later switched to the Union.)[16]

On 25 December, Tkuma MK Ariel left Jewish Home, and joined the Union.[17] This left Jewish Home as little more than a renamed NRP, which was also reflected in its motto "New Mafdal" (מפד"ל החדשה). In the 2009 election, the party won three seats.[18]

Bennett leads

[edit]
The Jewish Home election poster: "Something new begins", 2013

In November 2012, the Jewish Home held separate primaries for the leadership of the party. My Israel leader Naftali Bennett won over incumbent MK Zevulun Orlev, winning more than two-thirds of the vote, and Orlev announced he was resigning from politics. A week later, primaries for the remaining members of the list were held, and Nissan Slomiansky, Ayelet Shaked, and Uri Orbach reached the top spots. With the National Union breaking up, Uri Ariel officially re-united Tkuma with the Jewish Home to run on a joint list in the 2013 Israeli elections. A few Moledet candidates were included. In the elections that were held on 22 January 2013, the Jewish Home won 12 seats. The Jewish Home entered the thirty-third government of Israel under prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and had three ministers (Bennett, Ariel, and Orbach) and two deputy-ministers (Eli Ben Dahan and Avi Wortzman).

As part of its 2013 coalition agreement, the Jewish Home had the right to veto any laws that would change the status quo on religious issues. In December 2013, the party vetoed a Yesh Atid-proposed bill that sought to give gay fathers equal tax benefits, saying it would have far-reaching implications on marriage laws. Currently, mothers receive more benefits than do fathers under the law, and thus, couples composed of two men are ineligible for certain tax breaks.[19]

The party lost four seats in the 2015 Israeli legislative election, going from 12 seats in the previous election to eight.[20]

In December 2016, the party's member Shuli Mualem proposed the so-called Regulation Bill. The law seeks to legalize dozens of small outposts of settlements built in the occupied Palestinian territories on private ground of individual Palestinians.[21]

The Regulation Law passed legislation on 6 February 2017.[22] The law exclusively refers to Palestinians, and allows the government to expropriate land from individual Palestinians against their will for compensation up to 25% above the land's value.[23]

On 16 November 2018, the Jewish Home issued a statement claiming that the party intended to withdraw from Netanyahu's coalition government, and demanded an early election "as soon as possible".[24][25] This threat came after Netanyahu denied party leader Naftali Bennett's request to become the Defense Minister.[26] On 18 November, Netanyahu reneged on an earlier pledge to remove Jewish Home member Eli Ben Dahan as Deputy Defense Minister.[27] Bennett afterwards reneged on this pledge to withdraw on 19 November 2018, and agreed to abandon his push to become Defense Minister and keep the party in the coalition.[28]

Peretz years

[edit]

In December 2018, three Jewish Home MKs (Bennett, Mualem and Shaked) left the party to form the New Right.[29] Rafi Peretz was elected leader of the party on 4 February 2019.[30]

In the build-up to the April 2019 elections, the party agreed to run on a joint list with Tkuma, and later joined the Union of Right-Wing Parties (URWP) alliance alongside Otzma Yehudit.[31]

Prior to the September 2019 elections, the Jewish Home joined the Yamina alliance alongside New Right and Tkuma.[32] Following the elections, the bloc split into separate Knesset factions on 10 October, one consisting of the Jewish Home and Tkuma, and the other New Right.[33] However, the parties re-united to reform Yamina prior to the 2020 elections.[34]

On 22 April 2020, it was reported that Bennett was now "considering all options" for the Yamina alliance's political future, including departing from Netanyahu's government, which had just agreed to a coalition with the leader of the opposition Blue and White party Benny Gantz, and joining the opposition. Bennett was reported to be unhappy with the new coalition government's decision to hold back on the issue of judicial reform.[35]

On 14 May 2020, the Jewish Home unofficially left Yamina and joined the Netanyahu government, with Peretz becoming Jerusalem Minister.[36] The party officially split from Yamina on 14 July 2020.[37]

After winning just one seat when contesting the 2020 Israeli legislative election within the Yamina party, the Jewish Home left Yamina and joined the Thirty-fifth government of Israel.[36][38] The party officially split from Yamina on 14 July 2020.[37] Its leader, Rafi Peretz, was appointed Minister of Jerusalem and Ministry of Diaspora Affairs in the new government.[36][38]

24th Knesset: Moshe elected

[edit]

During the run-up to the 2021 Israeli legislative election, and amid poor showings in the polls, Peretz announced on 5 January 2021 that he would resign from his role as leader of the Jewish Home, and retire from politics, triggering a leadership election.[39][40] The election was conducted on 19 January 2021, with 965 members of the Central Committee selecting the new leader.[41] Those running were Hagit Moshe, the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, and Nir Orbach, the CEO of the Jewish Home.[42] On 19 January, Hagit Moshe was elected to succeed Peretz as the leader of the Jewish Home with 472 votes (56.12%).[43][44] On 4 February, Moshe announced that the Jewish Home will not contest the March 2021 election.[45] The party held negotiations with different parties, but failed to find a running mate and did not register any electoral candidates. Orbach left the party, joined Yamina, and was placed sixth on its party list,[46] going on to win a seat.[47]

25th Knesset: Joint ticket with Yamina

[edit]

Yossi Brodny was chosen on 18 July 2022 to lead the party's slate ahead of the 2022 Israeli legislative election.[48] The party allied with Yamina and a joint run, running under the name "The Jewish Home", was approved by the Central Committee of the party on 14 September 2022.[1]

Candidate list (25th Knesset)

[edit]

Top ten candidates for the 2022 elections to the 25th Knesset:[49]

  1. Minister Ayelet Shaked – Yamina
  2. Yossi Brodny – Jewish Home
  3. Amichai Porat – Yamina, son of Hanan Porat
  4. Nitsana Darshan-Leitner – Jewish Home
  5. MK Yomtob Kalfon – Yamina
  6. MK Orna Starkmann – Yamina
  7. Moshe Chanaya – Jewish Home
  8. Noy Rozenfeld – Yamina
  9. Gila Ben Naim – Jewish Home
  10. Jeremy Saltan – Yamina

The party failed to pass the electoral threshold.[50]

Dissolution

[edit]

The Jewish Home central committee voted to dissolve the party on 20 August 2023[2] and merged with the Religious Zionist Party to become a single party, National Religious Party–Religious Zionism.[51]

Aftermath

[edit]

In August 2024, Yossi Brodny announced that he was joining Yisrael Beiteinu.[52]

Other members joined Otzma Yehudit, New Hope and Shas.[53]

In 2025, several former Yamina members were reported to have assisted in registering a new political party for former prime minister Naftali Bennett, referred to in the media as "Bennett 2026".[54]

Ideology

[edit]

The party primarily represented Modern Orthodox as well as Chardal Jews.[7] For many years, this community has been politically fractured.[55] In the 2013 elections, the party was led by Naftali Bennett, a charismatic high-tech millionaire, who appealed to both religious and secular Israelis.[56] The party's pro-settlement message and Bennett's personal appeal helped it increase popularity among a broader segment of the population.[7] The attention that Bennett received also apparently had an effect on Likud's 2013 election strategy, pushing it to the right.[55] Along with Yesh Atid, the Jewish Home surged in popularity by promising to end the controversial system of draft exemptions given to many ultra-Orthodox seminary students, and to "ease the burden" on middle-class Israelis who serve in the military, work, and pay taxes. These two parties became the two largest coalition parties in Prime Minister Netanyahu's government, and leaders of both parties were able to force Netanyahu to promise that the ultra-Orthodox political parties will not be in the new coalition.[57] Despite Bennett's alliance with Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid on many domestic issues, the two differ sharply over peace efforts and settlement building. Bennett is opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state, and has called for Israel to annex Area C of the West Bank and offer citizenship to the Palestinians living there.[7][58][59] Their alliance ended during their time as coalition partners, before the 2015 Israeli legislative election.

Most of the party's candidates for the 2015 elections were opposed to same-sex marriage.[60] Some of the remarks made by its candidates have been called homophobic by Yair Lapid; Zehava Gal-On and Mickey Rosenthal also criticized the comments.[61] Despite this, in a 2016 poll conducted for the Hiddush organization, 57% of Jewish Home voters said they back same-sex marriage or partnerships.[62]

The party was considered to be part of the national camp in Israeli politics, a group of political parties that share nationalist views and often form governments together.[63]

Criticism

[edit]

In response to the party's short-lived 2019 alliance with Otzma Yehudit, Rabbi Benny Lau, a modern Orthodox rabbi from Jerusalem, said: "A vote for Bayit Yehudi is a vote for the racism of [Meir] Kahane." The rabbi equated Kahanism with Nazism.[64]

Leaders

[edit]

 Leader Took office Left office Elected/reelected as leader
1 Daniel Hershkowitz 2008 2012 2008
2 Naftali Bennett 2012 2018 2012, 2015, 2017
3 Rafi Peretz 2019 2021 2019
4 Hagit Moshe 2021 2023 2021

Knesset election results

[edit]
Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Status
2009 Daniel Hershkowitz 96,765 (#11) 2.87
3 / 120
 New Coalition
2013[a] Naftali Bennett 345,985 (#4) 9.12
8 / 120
 Increase 5 Coalition
2015[b] 283,910 (#6) 6.74
6 / 120
 Decrease 2 Coalition
Apr 2019 Rafi Peretz Part of the URWP
3 / 120
 Decrease 3 Snap election
Sep 2019 Part of Yamina
2 / 120
 Decrease 1 Snap election
2020
1 / 120
 Decrease 1 Coalition
2021 Hagit Moshe[c] Did not contest Extra-parliamentary
2022 56,793 (#13) 1.19
0 / 120
 Steady Extra-parliamentary
  1. ^ Tkuma ran on the Jewish Home list; the entire list won twelve seats, with Tkuma winning four
  2. ^ Tkuma ran on the Jewish Home list; the entire list won eight seats, with Tkuma winning two
  3. ^ In 2022 Ayelet Shaked was the leader of the list.

Knesset members list

[edit]
Knesset Years MKs Members
17 2006–2009 5 Uri Ariel, Eliyahu Gabai, Zvi Hendel, Zevulun Orlev, Nissan Slomiansky
18 2009–2013 3 Daniel Hershkowitz, Uri Orbach, Zevulun Orlev
19 2013–2015 12 Naftali Bennett, Uri Ariel, Nissan Slomiansky, Eli Ben-Dahan, Ayelet Shaked, Uri Orbach(died in office), Zvulun Kalfa, Avi Wortzman, Moti Yogev, Orit Strook, Yoni Chetboun, Shuli Mualem, Hillel Horowitz(from 16 February 2015)
20 2015–2019 8 Naftali Bennett, Uri Ariel, Ayelet Shaked, Eli Ben-Dahan, Nissan Slomiansky, Yinon Magal(resigned in 2015), Moti Yogev, Bezalel Smotrich, Shuli Mualem(from October 2015)
21 2019 3 Rafi Peretz, Moti Yogev, Idit Silman
22 2019–2020 2 Rafi Peretz, Moti Yogev
23 2020–2021 1 Rafi Peretz

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The Jewish Home

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from Grokipedia
The Jewish Home (Hebrew: HaBayit HaYehudi) was an Israeli rooted in , formed in 2008 by merging the longstanding (Mafdal) with factions from the National Union to consolidate the religious Zionist electorate ahead of elections. The party emphasized the application of Jewish law and values in governance, robust policies, and the expansion and legalization of Jewish settlements in the (Judea and Samaria), viewing as essential to Jewish sovereignty and historical rights. The party was initially led by Daniel Hershkowitz from 2008 to 2012, who oversaw its formation and early consolidation following the merger. Under the leadership of from 2012 to 2018, The Jewish Home broadened its appeal beyond strictly Orthodox voters by incorporating secular nationalists, achieving a peak of 12 seats (out of 120) in the 2013 election and joining Benjamin Netanyahu's , where Bennett served as economy minister and advanced pro-settlement initiatives. The party's influence facilitated policies promoting religious education, military enlistment among the religious community, and resistance to Palestinian statehood frameworks that involve significant land concessions. Subsequent leadership under Rafi Peretz from 2018 onward faced challenges, including Bennett's departure to form the centrist party, leading to electoral fragmentation and mergers such as the 2019 alliance with —a group linked to the banned Kach movement—for electoral viability, which sparked domestic and international backlash over associations with ideological advocating Jewish supremacy and expulsion of disloyal . Despite these controversies, the party's ideological successors within the broader religious Zionist bloc contributed to the right-wing's strong showing in the elections, underscoring persistent voter support for its core tenets amid Israel's polarized politics.

History

Origins and Formation

The Jewish Home (HaBayit HaYehudi) was formed in November 2008 as a merger between the (NRP, known as Mafdal) and the Tkuma and factions of the National Union, creating a unified right-wing religious Zionist entity ahead of the 2009 elections for Israel's 18th . The initiative addressed the religious Zionist camp's fragmentation, which had worsened after the NRP's electoral setbacks, including its alliance's mere four seats in the 2006 elections amid disputes over the 2005 Gaza disengagement. This consolidation sought to revive the sector's political influence by combining the NRP's traditional base with Tkuma's hardline settler advocacy and 's advocacy for policies. The NRP, the merger's core component, originated in 1956 from the union of the Mizrahi movement—founded in 1902 to integrate religious observance with Zionist settlement—and Hapoel HaMizrahi, its labor-oriented counterpart established in 1922. Historically a centrist force in coalition governments, the NRP had supported Israel's early while upholding Torah-based and settlement in and ; however, ideological rifts in the 2000s—particularly over withdrawal concessions—eroded its cohesion, culminating in breakaways like Eretz Yisrael's formation in 2003. The Jewish Home's creation thus represented a strategic rebranding to appeal to a broader national-religious demographic, emphasizing over biblical territories and resistance to territorial compromise. Prominent figures in the formation included Rabbi Professor Daniel Hershkowitz, who was elected as the party's first chairman, MK Zevulun Orlev, a veteran NRP lawmaker who emerged as a leading candidate for party chairmanship and topped the initial list for the 2009 vote, Uri Orbach, alongside Uri Ariel of Tkuma and Benny Elon of the National Union. Despite internal competition for leadership, the merger proceeded with Hershkowitz assuming the chairmanship, focusing on a joint electoral slate that secured three seats in February 2009, though soon departed due to policy disagreements. This foundational phase established The Jewish Home as a vehicle for religious Zionism's core tenets, prioritizing Jewish in the over prior moderation.

Rise Under Naftali Bennett

, a former high-tech entrepreneur and chief of staff to , broke away from the party in April 2012 and joined The Jewish Home (HaBayit HaYehudi), bringing along secular ally to broaden the party's appeal beyond its traditional religious Zionist base. On November 6, 2012, Bennett decisively won the party leadership primary, securing approximately 67% of the vote against incumbent Zevulun Orlev, positioning him to lead the party into the upcoming elections. Under Bennett's leadership, The Jewish Home formed a joint with the Tkuma faction of the National Union party ahead of the January 22, 2013, elections, emphasizing themes of national pride, settlement expansion, and economic reform to attract younger, secular right-wing voters disillusioned with larger parties. The strategy succeeded markedly, as the party surged from 3 seats in the previous 2009 election—when it had merged the and other factions—to 12 seats, capturing 8.76% of the national vote and becoming the third-largest party in the 19th . This breakthrough elevated The Jewish Home to a pivotal role in coalition negotiations, with Bennett securing the Economy and Religious Services ministries in the subsequent Netanyahu-led government. Bennett retained leadership unopposed in the January 14, 2015, party primary, though the party's momentum waned slightly in the March 17, 2015, elections, dropping to 6 seats amid intensified competition from other right-wing factions. Despite this, his tenure marked a transformative expansion, shifting The Jewish Home from a niche religious outfit to a more mainstream nationalist force capable of influencing national policy on security and territorial issues.

Shift to Rafi Peretz Leadership

In December 2018, , who had led The Jewish Home to significant electoral success by broadening its appeal beyond traditional religious Zionist voters, departed the party alongside to establish the faction, aiming to contest the April 2019 elections independently. This exit left The Jewish Home without a clear leader and facing plummeting poll numbers, prompting senior party officials to urgently seek a replacement to unify the national religious constituency ahead of the elections. On February 3, 2019, the party nominated Rafi Peretz, the former Chief Rabbi of the Israel Defense Forces, as its new chairman during a meeting, with Peretz formally elected to the position the following day. Peretz, a and educator with deep ties to the religious Zionist community, was viewed by party insiders as a stabilizing figure capable of restoring the party's orthodox roots after Bennett's tenure had emphasized and secular outreach. The leadership transition marked a strategic pivot toward reinforcing The Jewish Home's identity as a vehicle for , including alliances with more hardline elements like for the 2019 elections, though this drew criticism for associating with extremist views. Peretz assumed the role amid internal pressures to avoid electoral irrelevance, with the party securing four seats in the April 2019 vote as part of the alliance before further shifts.

Alliances and the 24th Knesset

In preparation for the election to the 24th Knesset on March 23, 2021, The Jewish Home registered a separate candidate list by the February 4 deadline, rejecting an anticipated alliance with Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party despite prior discussions. The decision aimed to avoid diluting the religious Zionist vote but shifted toward supporting Naftali Bennett's alliance, which combined secular and religious right-wing elements including the and . Following Rafi Peretz's retirement from politics announced in January 2021, the party, under interim leadership, withdrew its list shortly after registration and formally endorsed to consolidate right-wing support amid fragmented polling. This non-competitive backing reflected strategic calculations to bolster Yamina's threshold-crossing potential without fielding candidates, as Jewish Home's standalone prospects appeared dim based on pre-election surveys showing support below the 3.25% . Yamina ultimately won 7 seats with 240,686 votes (5.82% of the total), entering the while The Jewish Home secured no representation. The endorsement did not translate to formal coalition ties post-election, as 's MKs navigated independent negotiations leading to the diverse anti-Netanyahu government formed in June 2021.

Challenges in the 25th Knesset

In the November 1, 2022, elections for the 25th , The Jewish Home participated within the electoral alliance, alongside Bezalel Smotrich's and Itamar Ben-Gvir's , which collectively garnered 10.8% of the vote and 14 seats. This joint run was necessitated by the party's weak independent polling, as prior attempts under Rafi Peretz had failed to regain momentum from earlier electoral declines. However, the alliance amplified challenges for The Jewish Home, as its more centrist religious Zionist profile was overshadowed by the harder-line stances of partners on issues like settlement expansion and , leading to a voter shift away from the party's traditional base. Leadership instability compounded these issues; Peretz retired from politics on January 5, 2021, citing personal reasons and party fatigue after internal strife, leaving Hagit Moshe as interim leader who secured a mid-list position (eighth) in the alliance, ensuring her entry to the but highlighting the party's reliance on coalition dynamics for survival. The Jewish Home's marginalization was evident in the bloc's internal power structure, where Smotrich and Ben-Gvir dominated candidate selection and post-election negotiations, resulting in only peripheral roles for Jewish Home affiliates amid the alliance's overall success. Within the Netanyahu-led formed on December 29, 2022, these tensions persisted, as The Jewish Home struggled to assert distinct influence on policy amid disputes over budget allocations, judicial reforms, and military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox communities—areas where alliance partners like pushed more aggressively, diluting the party's voice on core religious Zionist priorities such as and settlement support. Voter disillusionment with the party's inability to maintain ideological autonomy further eroded its standing, with polls showing religious Zionist support consolidating around Smotrich's faction by mid-2023. This period underscored systemic vulnerabilities, including repeated merger dependencies and failure to rebuild grassroots appeal post-Bennett era, positioning The Jewish Home as a junior partner at risk of further absorption.

Dissolution and Merger

Following electoral setbacks and internal challenges that diminished its independent viability, The Jewish Home pursued unification with aligned religious Zionist factions. On August 3, 2023, party chairwoman Hagit Moshe and leader announced a merger agreement to create the , aiming to consolidate the camp's influence within Benjamin Netanyahu's . The merger integrated The Jewish Home's , membership, and policy priorities—such as settlement expansion and religious Zionist values—into the new entity, effectively dissolving the as a standalone . Smotrich assumed of the unified , which retained key ministerial portfolios including and held by former Jewish Home figures. This step addressed fragmentation in the religious Zionist bloc, which had previously hindered electoral thresholds and , as evidenced by The Jewish Home's failure to secure seats independently in the 2021 election. By late 2023, the new party operated as a cohesive unit, participating in coalition decisions on issues like judicial reforms and security policies, marking the end of The Jewish Home's 15-year existence as a distinct political force.

Ideology and Positions

Core Religious Zionist Principles

, the ideological foundation of The Jewish Home, synthesizes with Zionist nationalism, positing that the return to and sovereignty over the fulfills biblical commandments and initiates the messianic redemption (atḥalta de'ge'ulah). This worldview, articulated by Rabbi in the early 20th century, interprets secular Zionist activities as unwitting instruments of divine will, bridging religious observance with national revival. The movement emphasizes active participation in state-building, including settlement and defense, as religious imperatives derived from sources such as the commandment to settle the land (yishuv ha'aretz). At its core, Religious Zionism rests on three interlocking pillars: the Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael), representing territorial integrity and settlement as eternal inheritance; the People of Israel (Am Yisrael), fostering national unity and ingathering of exiles; and the Torah of Israel (Torat Yisrael), guiding public life, education, and legislation to preserve Jewish identity. These principles reject territorial partition, viewing areas like Judea, Samaria, and eastern Jerusalem—biblically mandated territories—as inseparable from Israeli sovereignty for both spiritual and security reasons. The ideology promotes Torah va'Avodah (Torah and labor), combining yeshiva study with productive work, military service through hesder programs, and societal contributions, countering isolationist ultra-Orthodox approaches. In practice, these tenets manifest in advocacy for applying across the entire , opposing Palestinian statehood or withdrawals that undermine biblical claims, and upholding the Jewish character of the state via policies on , observance, and . While prioritizing empirical needs—such as settlements buffering centers—the principles derive causal primacy from religious realism, where divine promise intersects historical agency, rather than purely pragmatic or international concessions. The Jewish Home's platform explicitly declares the "eternal, undivided capital" and West Bank settlements as non-negotiable for sovereignty, reflecting this fusion without subordinating to .

Settlement and Territorial Policies

The Jewish Home party has long championed the expansion of Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria (the ), framing such activity as essential to securing Israel's biblical heartland and interests. The party's platform explicitly opposes the creation of a Palestinian state in these territories, arguing that unilateral withdrawals, such as the 2005 Gaza disengagement, have empowered without yielding peace. Instead, it prioritizes settlement fortification, including infrastructure development and population growth incentives, as outlined in coalition agreements with that allocated resources for outpost legalization and road networks. A cornerstone of the party's territorial policy is the application of Israeli sovereignty over Area C—the approximately 60% of the West Bank under full Israeli administrative control, encompassing major settlement blocs, the Jordan Valley, and strategic security zones. In 2014, party leader Naftali Bennett proposed annexing this area, offering full Israeli citizenship to its roughly 30,000 Palestinian residents while granting semi-autonomy to Areas A and B (Palestinian-controlled urban centers). This "stability initiative," detailed in Bennett's 2012 policy paper, aimed to preempt a two-state solution by securing defensible borders and preventing territorial contiguity for a Palestinian entity. As Defense Minister in 2020, Bennett reinforced this stance, declaring Area C as unequivocally Israeli territory and committing government efforts to counter Palestinian encroachments through mapping, enforcement, and sovereignty task forces. The party has actively pursued legislative measures to retroactively legalize unauthorized outposts and integrate settlements into Israel proper, exemplified by Bennett's 2017 call to annex , a settlement bloc of over 40,000 residents east of . These efforts reflect a rejection of Accords-era land divisions, with party members like Bennett in 2016 urging an "active policy" of full annexation to fulfill Zionist settlement imperatives, even at the risk of international backlash. Critics, including left-leaning outlets, have labeled these positions expansionist, but proponents within the party cite demographic realities and historical Jewish presence as causal justifications for prioritizing sovereignty over negotiated concessions.

Economic Liberalism and Social Issues

The Jewish Home advocated for economic policies aligned with liberalism, particularly emphasizing tax reductions to stimulate growth and relief for productive economic sectors, as outlined in its platform during the Naftali Bennett era. Bennett, who led the party from 2012 to 2018 and served as Minister of Economy from 2013 to 2015, prioritized deregulation to foster innovation, high-tech development, and entrepreneurship, arguing that bureaucratic barriers hindered Israel's competitive edge in global markets. These positions reflected a broader commitment to free-market principles, though critics noted that implementation often remained limited in coalition governments due to competing fiscal priorities. On social issues, the party maintained staunchly conservative stances grounded in Orthodox Jewish values, opposing reforms and advocating preservation of the on religious matters such as public observance and kosher requirements in state institutions. It supported tax incentives for large families to encourage traditional demographic growth aligned with religious Zionist ideals. Under Rafi Peretz's leadership from , these views intensified; Peretz, as , endorsed for individuals experiencing same-sex attraction, claiming personal success in such interventions, a position that drew rebuke from medical bodies citing lack of empirical efficacy and potential harm. He further equated rising intermarriage rates among to a "second ," underscoring the party's prioritization of Jewish continuity through endogamous marriage over assimilationist trends. These positions consistently rejected expansions of LGBTQ+ rights, such as access or recognition of same-sex unions, viewing them as antithetical to halakhic family structures.

Security and National Defense Stance

The Jewish Home party consistently prioritized a hawkish approach to , viewing deterrence and territorial control as essential to preventing threats from Palestinian terrorism and neighboring adversaries. The party's platform emphasized that Jewish settlements in the serve as vital security buffers, arguing they should neither be uprooted nor conceded in negotiations, as such actions would expose Israel's heartland to vulnerability. This stance reflected a causal understanding that territorial depth enhances defensive capabilities, drawing from historical precedents like the 1967 where control of elevated terrain aided positioning. Under Naftali Bennett's leadership from 2012 to 2018, the party advocated aggressive countermeasures against and other terror groups, including rejection of long-term ceasefires perceived as rewarding aggression. In August 2018, Bennett opposed a potential truce with , warning it would undermine Israel's deterrence and embolden further attacks from Gaza. During the 2014 Gaza conflict (Operation Protective Edge), Bennett attributed civilian casualties in Gaza to 's use of human shields, defending IDF operations as necessary while criticizing concessions that fail to dismantle terror infrastructure. Bennett also proposed a "shoot-to-kill" policy for border threats from Gaza, extending to incendiary devices or infiltrators, to prioritize Israeli lives over restraint that invites escalation. The party demanded the Defense Ministry portfolio in 2018 following Avigdor Lieberman's resignation, underscoring its insistence on shaping directly. In opposition to Palestinian statehood, The Jewish Home's platform reserved Israel's right to conduct unilateral military operations within any future Palestinian entity's territory if deemed necessary for , rejecting sovereignty constraints that could hamper preemptive or retaliatory actions. This position aligned with broader Religious Zionist principles, positing that undivided control over biblical heartlands—, , and Gaza—fortifies national resilience against existential threats, rather than reliance on unverifiable peace accords. Rafi Peretz, who led from 2019 onward, maintained this framework as and security cabinet observer, supporting coalition policies that integrated party members into defense decision-making without notable deviations. The party's emphasis on bolstering IDF readiness extended to internal debates, such as resisting draft exemptions that dilute burdens, viewing universal —including for religious Zionists—as critical for sustaining a capable force amid persistent terror risks. Overall, these policies stemmed from empirical assessments of past withdrawals, like the 2005 Gaza disengagement, which correlated with heightened rocket attacks and entrenchment, reinforcing the party's commitment to proactive defense over diplomatic appeasement.

Electoral Performance

Knesset Election Results

The Jewish Home (HaBayit HaYehudi) debuted in the 2009 election to the 18th on February 10, securing 3 seats out of 120 with approximately 2.3% of the vote. Under Naftali Bennett's leadership, the party experienced a significant surge in the January 22, 2013, election to the 19th , winning 12 seats with 9.12% of the vote (344,904 votes), reflecting broadened appeal beyond traditional religious Zionist voters to include secular right-wing supporters. This marked the party's electoral peak, quadrupling its representation amid a fragmented right-wing field. In the March 17, 2015, election to the 20th , the party retained strong but reduced support, gaining 8 seats with 6.28% of the vote (214,738 votes), as voter shifts toward newer parties like and eroded some gains. Post-2015, internal divisions, leadership changes, and competition from harder-line religious Zionist factions contributed to decline; the party failed to win seats independently in later contests.
Knesset ElectionDateSeats Won (Independent Run)
18thFebruary 10, 20093
19thJanuary 22, 201312
20thMarch 17, 20158
Subsequent participation occurred primarily through alliances, such as the 2021 list (including Jewish Home elements under Rafi Peretz) that secured 6 seats, though the core party did not compete solo and saw no direct independent representation after 2015. In the November 1, 2022, election to the 25th , a joint list with Ayelet Shaked's faction garnered under 1% of the vote, failing the 3.25% threshold and yielding zero seats. This trajectory underscores challenges from voter fragmentation in the religious Zionist spectrum.

Key Alliances and Joint Runs

In preparation for the January 2013 elections to the 19th , The Jewish Home formed a joint electoral list with the National Union alliance, incorporating Tkuma and remnants of , under the leadership of ; this unified list secured 12 seats with 9.1% of the vote. The alliance persisted into the March 2015 elections to the 20th , where the joint list, again including Tkuma, obtained 8 seats with 6.3% of the vote, though internal tensions over candidate rotations led Tkuma to threaten but ultimately not bolt from the partnership. Ahead of the April 2019 elections to the 21st , The Jewish Home merged into the alliance with National Union-Tkuma and , encouraged by to consolidate right-wing votes; the list received 1.3% of the vote and failed to cross the , resulting in no seats. For the September 2019 elections to the 22nd , The Jewish Home shifted to the alliance, partnering with the (led by Bennett and ) and National Union-Tkuma, which garnered 5.8% of the vote and 7 seats. This framework continued into the March 2021 elections to the 24th , where the again won 7 seats with 5.4% of the vote; however, The Jewish Home did not run an independent list, effectively subsuming its identity within the broader alliance amid leadership transitions. Subsequent attempts at revival, such as under Rafi Peretz, involved smaller pacts like a brief 2020 merger push with , but these yielded negligible electoral impact as the party threshold proved insurmountable without broader right-wing consolidation.

Leadership and Key Figures

Party Leaders

, a former tech entrepreneur and commando officer, was elected chairman of The Jewish Home on November 6, 2012, defeating incumbent Zevulun Orlev and in a primary vote. Under his leadership, the party expanded its appeal beyond traditional religious Zionists by incorporating secular right-wing voters, leading to a breakthrough in the January 2013 elections where it secured 12 seats, tripling its previous representation. Bennett served as party leader until December 2018, during which he held ministerial positions including economy and education, advocating for settlement expansion and . Rafi Peretz, a and former Chief Military Rabbi of the , succeeded Bennett as party chairman on February 3, 2019, following internal primaries. Peretz led The Jewish Home into the April 2019 elections as part of the Union of Right-Wing Parties alliance, which won 5 seats, with the party receiving 2. His tenure, marked by efforts to unify religious Zionist factions including alliances with Tkuma and , faced criticism for diluting the party's moderate image and electoral struggles in subsequent polls. Peretz resigned from leadership and politics on January 5, 2021, citing a desire to focus on family and community work after serving as Minister of and Jerusalem Affairs. Hagit Moshe, a deputy mayor of and longtime party activist, was elected chairperson on January 19, 2021, defeating rival candidate Yizhar Hess and becoming the first woman to lead a major . Her leadership emphasized party unity and independence, preparing for the March 2021 elections where The Jewish Home ran a with but failed to cross the , receiving 1.81% of the vote. Moshe continued as chair through the party's diminished role and eventual mergers, focusing on local governance and ideological continuity amid declining national influence.

Influential Members and Factions

Naftali Bennett emerged as a pivotal figure in The Jewish Home, assuming party leadership in late 2012 and steering it toward broader electoral success by attracting secular voters alongside its religious Zionist base. His tenure, lasting until 2018, emphasized technological innovation, economic deregulation, and opposition to Palestinian statehood, culminating in the party's strongest showing of 12 seats in the January 2013 Knesset elections. Bennett's strategy involved open primaries, which diversified the candidate list but also sowed seeds for internal discord. Ayelet Shaked, a secular technologist and close Bennett ally, exerted significant influence as a member from 2013 and Justice Minister from 2015 to 2019. Her advocacy for judicial reforms, including efforts to limit the Supreme Court's oversight of legislation, positioned her as a bridge between the party's religious core and libertarian-leaning constituencies. Shaked's prominence highlighted the party's evolving inclusivity toward non-Orthodox members, though her 2018 departure with Bennett to form the party underscored factional fractures over ideological purity. Rafi Peretz, former IDF , led the party from 2019 to 2021 after Bennett's exit, focusing on and heritage preservation during his stint as . His leadership facilitated electoral alliances, including a 2019 merger with the National Union, Tkuma, and to form the list, securing five seats. Peretz's tenure, however, faced criticism for controversial statements on demographics and conversion, contributing to the party's electoral decline and his eventual retirement from politics in January 2021. Bezalel Smotrich represented the hardline settler wing through his role in the National Union sub-faction, winning its leadership in January 2019 with 68% of votes against a more moderate rival. As a Knesset member from 2015, Smotrich pushed for annexation of West Bank settlements and opposed concessions, embodying the Tkuma faction's territorial maximalism inherited from earlier mergers. His influence persisted post-split, as he later headed the Religious Zionist Party, but within The Jewish Home, it amplified tensions between expansionist hardliners and pragmatic centrists. The party's structure reflected its origins as a 2008 merger of the (Mafdal) with settler factions like Tkuma and elements of the National Union, fostering ongoing divisions over candidate selection and policy priorities. Mafdal loyalists favored broader religious Zionist outreach, while Tkuma and National Union advocates prioritized settlement expansion, leading to disputes such as the 2015 backlash against Bennett's inclusion of non-religious candidates like . These fault lines precipitated multiple splits, including Moledet's 2008 defection to form a rival National Union list and the 2018 exodus of Bennett's moderate bloc, ultimately fragmenting the party's cohesion.

Governmental Roles and Policy Impacts

Ministerial Positions and Achievements

The Jewish Home party secured several ministerial portfolios during its participation in Israeli coalition governments, particularly under Prime Minister from 2013 onward. In the 33rd government formed in March 2013, party leader was appointed Minister of Economy, Trade and Labor, while Uri Ariel served as Minister of Housing and Construction, and Uri Orbach as Minister for Senior Citizens. In the subsequent 34th government starting in May 2015, took the role of Minister of Justice, and Bennett shifted to Minister of Education. Later, under Rafi Peretz's leadership in 2019, the party retained the Education Ministry. These positions allowed the party to influence policies in , judicial processes, housing expansion, and educational curricula.
MinisterPositionTenureKey Achievements
Naftali BennettEconomy, Trade and Labor2013–2015Implemented reforms aimed at reducing food prices through increased competition in import regulations and supermarket oversight.
Uri ArielHousing and Construction2013–2019Oversaw marketing of tens of thousands of housing units, with a focus on expanding construction in and settlements, allocating approximately 33% of government housing funding to such areas.
Ayelet ShakedJustice2015–2019Advanced judicial reforms, including changes to the judicial selection process to increase representation of conservative and religious judges on the ; proposed legislation in 2017 to decriminalize recreational use.
Naftali Bennett2015–2019Approved reforms to cap class sizes at 34 students nationwide by 2020, enhancing practical skills in curricula over traditional literature emphasis; promoted integration of religious-Zionist values in state .
Rafi Peretz2019–2020Emphasized strengthening and heritage in school programs, amid efforts to incorporate elements into broader curricula.
Bennett's economic tenure focused on to boost Israel's high-tech sector and consumer affordability, contributing to measurable declines in select food costs through targeted antitrust actions. Shaked's reforms sought to address perceived judicial overreach, resulting in a shifted composition with more ideologically diverse appointees, though these changes drew criticism from legal establishments for potentially undermining —critiques often amplified by left-leaning media outlets with institutional biases against right-wing . Ariel's initiatives prioritized settlement growth, advancing over 40 new settlement approvals and projects, aligning with the party's territorial priorities despite international condemnation. In education, Bennett and Peretz's policies reinforced national and religious components, including expanded studies and programs, fostering greater alignment between state and religious Zionist values.

Contributions to Legislation and Governance

Ayelet Shaked, serving as Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2019 under The Jewish Home's coalition participation, implemented reforms aimed at streamlining the legal system, including measures to alleviate court backlogs and overhaul bankruptcy procedures to facilitate business recovery. These efforts sought to address inefficiencies in judicial processes, with Shaked emphasizing practical adjustments over expansive ideological shifts during her tenure. Additionally, she advanced the extension of Israeli civilian law to settlements, formalizing administrative governance in those areas. The party provided crucial support for the : Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, enacted by the on July 19, 2018, by a vote of 62-55. Sponsored primarily by MK but backed by coalition partners including The Jewish Home, the law constitutionally affirms 's role as the Jewish people's nation-state, prioritizing Jewish , settlement as a national value, and Hebrew as the state language while downgrading to a "special status." In 2014, Jewish Home MKs co-sponsored legislation to rescind Arabic's status as an , arguing it would promote social cohesion by aligning state symbols more closely with Israel's Jewish character; though the bill did not pass in its original form, it influenced subsequent debates on linguistic policy. As Minister of from 2013 to 2015, contributed to legislative efforts resolving budget deadlocks, enabling the passage of the 2014 state budget after prolonged negotiations. The Jewish Home's governance roles also extended to education policy, where leaders like Bennett (2015-2017) and Rafi Peretz (2019-2020) allocated increased funding for religious and state-religious schools, though specific legislative outputs focused more on administrative directives than new statutes. Overall, the party's influence emphasized bolstering Jewish and settlement frameworks within coalition dynamics, often through supportive votes rather than sole sponsorship.

Controversies and Criticisms

Internal Party Divisions

The Jewish Home experienced significant internal tensions shortly after its 2008 formation through the merger of the and National Union, as ideological differences between moderate religious Zionists and hardline nationalists led to early fractures. In 2012, the National Union faction split from the party, with MK Uri Ariel departing to align with the more extreme Hatikva party, reflecting disputes over the balance between religious principles and broader nationalist appeals. These divisions intensified under Naftali Bennett's from 2012, as his strategy to attract secular right-wing voters—emphasizing and security hawkishness—clashed with traditionalists who prioritized Orthodox religious identity and settlement expansion, resulting in ongoing infighting over candidate selection and party primaries. A pivotal leadership contest occurred in April 2017, where incumbent Bennett secured re-election against challengers, underscoring factional rivalries within the religious Zionist camp but failing to resolve underlying rifts between modern Orthodox "knitted kippa" youth and establishment religious figures. The most consequential split unfolded in December 2018, when Bennett and resigned to form the party, citing irreconcilable conflicts with the party's central institutions, which enforced religious primaries that marginalized secular candidates and limited electoral expansion beyond the Orthodox base. This exodus, approved by the House Committee, left the remaining party under Rafi Peretz more aligned with settler hardliners but electorally weakened. Subsequent divisions involved debates over alliances with extremist groups like , prompting the party in January 2020 to drop such factions in favor of mainstream right-wing coalitions to avoid threshold failure, highlighting persistent splits between ideological purists advocating Kahanist ties and pragmatists seeking viability. These recurring conflicts, driven by personal ambitions and the challenge of unifying religious Zionism's diverse strands, contributed to the party's fragmentation and eventual absorption into broader alliances like , which itself dissolved in October 2019 amid similar factional pressures.

Accusations of Extremism and External Critiques

The Jewish Home party has encountered accusations of extremism largely stemming from its electoral alliances with fringe ultranationalist groups and statements by key figures advocating strong territorial claims in the West Bank. In February 2019, the party's technical merger with Otzma Yehudit—a faction rooted in the ideology of Rabbi Meir Kahane, whose Kach party was banned in Israel in 1988 for racism—ahead of Knesset elections drew widespread condemnation for mainstreaming Kahanist views, including Jewish supremacy and expulsion of disloyal Arabs. This pact, facilitated under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc, prompted rare rebukes from American pro-Israel organizations, such as the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, which stated it crossed a "red line" by allying with parties espousing "abhorrent" ideologies. Further internal and external backlash intensified in December 2019 when party chairman Rafi Peretz pursued another merger with without central committee approval, leading dozens of party officials and senior MK to demand his resignation and accuse him of betraying the party's moderate religious Zionist base to secure survival amid declining polls. Critics, including left-leaning Israeli media and opposition figures, highlighted Peretz's prior controversial remarks—such as claiming Jewish girls dating constituted a "second " in July 2019—as evidence of the party's drift toward intolerance, though defenders framed these as concerns over demographic shifts and assimilation. Prominent members like faced specific external critiques for hardline positions, including his December 2015 statement that the killing of three by a Jewish extremist was "not ," which opposition lawmakers and media outlets decried as justifying . Smotrich's advocacy for annexation and opposition to a Palestinian state has been labeled "unrepentant Jewish extremism" by outlets like , which portray such stances as undermining Israel's democratic character, though these sources often reflect a center-left bias favoring territorial compromise. Similarly, Justice Minister drew international criticism in 2015 for a post during the Gaza conflict quoting a text dehumanizing , which some activists and media interpreted as genocidal incitement, despite her clarification that it targeted militants, not civilians. Broader external critiques from European bodies and NGOs have accused the party of fostering settler violence through support for outposts, linking it to "" attacks on , though empirical data shows such incidents represent a tiny fraction of overall violence, predominantly initiated by against per reports. These accusations, often amplified by outlets with anti-settlement agendas, overlook the party's emphasis on legal settlement expansion as a and historical imperative, positioning it within mainstream rather than fringe terror.

Specific Policy Disputes

The Jewish Home party's staunch support for settlement expansion in the precipitated significant disputes, most notably surrounding the Judea and Samaria Settlement Regulation Law passed by the on February 6, 2017. The legislation, backed by Jewish Home leaders including and partners, enabled the retroactive authorization of outposts constructed on privately owned Palestinian land, with the state empowered to expropriate such plots for settlement use while offering compensation to owners. Critics, encompassing Israel's attorney general, opposition parties, and international bodies like the , condemned the measure as a violation of and an obstacle to negotiations, arguing it incentivized further construction on disputed territory. The Israeli Supreme Court invalidated the law on June 17, 2020, deeming it discriminatory and infringing on Palestinian property rights without adequate justification. The party also championed the Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, enacted on July 19, 2018, by a 62-55 vote, which Jewish Home MKs endorsed as affirming 's Jewish character amid demographic pressures. Provisions establishing Jewish as unique to the state, prioritizing "Jewish settlement" as a national value, and relegating from status to one of "special" standing drew rebukes from Arab citizens, organizations, and progressive factions, who asserted it entrenched ethnic hierarchy and eroded equal civic rights enshrined in earlier declarations. Proponents, including Jewish Home, countered that the law merely codified pre-existing realities without altering individual rights or minority protections. The upheld the law on July 8, 2021, rejecting petitions to strike it down. Disputes over religious policy integration highlighted tensions between Jewish Home's Zionist inclusivity and Orthodox gatekeeping, particularly in conversion processes for non-Orthodox immigrants. As in 2013, Bennett advanced legislative proposals to decentralize conversions, permitting municipal rabbis and alternative tracks to recognize giyur for immigrants from the former —estimated at over 300,000 lacking halakhic Jewish status—thereby easing access to and rights. This initiative provoked backlash from the Chief Rabbinate and ultra-Orthodox allies, who decried it as undermining authority and risking invalid conversions, stalling progress amid negotiations and rabbinic veto threats. The party's advocacy for mandatory among ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men fueled ongoing coalition frictions, as Jewish Home prioritized "sharing the burden" to bolster IDF manpower amid security demands. In the 2013-2015 government, Jewish Home ministers supported the 2014 amendment to the Defense Service Law, mandating gradual Haredi enlistment quotas with sanctions for non-compliance, contrasting with Haredi parties' demands for blanket deferrals. Implementation faltered due to rabbinic edicts against service and legal challenges, exacerbating budgetary disputes and nearly collapsing coalitions, with enlistment rates remaining below 10% for eligible Haredi men by 2018.

Legacy and Aftermath

Influence on Israeli Right-Wing Politics

The Jewish Home exerted considerable influence on Israeli right-wing politics by mainstreaming religious Zionist ideologies into broader nationalist and conservative platforms, particularly through its advocacy for settlement expansion and opposition to Palestinian statehood. Under 's leadership starting in 2012, the party surged in the 2013 elections, capturing 12 seats—its highest ever—and securing key ministerial roles in Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, including economy and affairs. This positioned it as a pivotal force in advancing policies like the 2017 regularization law for outposts, which retroactively legalized thousands of settlement structures, thereby entrenching right-wing territorial claims. Bennett's tenure modernized the party's image, attracting secular voters disillusioned with Likud's pragmatism and emphasizing alongside hawkish security stances, which pressured mainstream right-wing factions to adopt harder lines on sovereignty issues. This evolution contributed to the fragmentation and realignment of the right, as seen in the split where Bennett and formed the party to appeal beyond religious voters, influencing subsequent electoral strategies focused on anti-concession rhetoric. Post-2015 electoral declines, the party's ideological imprint persisted through offshoots like , which Bennett led to form Israel's 2021 , marking the first non-Netanyahu premiership in over a and demonstrating how Jewish Home alumni could bridge religious and centrist-right elements. Figures from the party, such as Rafi Peretz, continued to shape coalition demands on religious and settlement matters, reinforcing the right-wing bloc's leverage in arithmetic and policy vetoes against left-leaning initiatives. Overall, The Jewish Home's legacy lies in elevating from niche to core right-wing tenets, fostering a more unified opposition to two-state solutions and amplifying voices for full Israeli control over contested territories, trends evident in the 2022 election outcomes where successor parties garnered significant mandates.

Merger Outcomes and Ongoing Impact

The merger between The Jewish Home and the , announced on August 3, 2023, resulted in the formation of the , with as its leader. This union dissolved The Jewish Home on August 20, 2023, effectively ending its independent existence after years of electoral decline, including failing to secure seats in the 2021 election. The arrangement was viewed as mutually beneficial: it expanded Religious Zionism's base among national-religious voters and municipal networks while rescuing remnants of The Jewish Home from marginalization by consolidating overlapping ideological constituencies focused on and settlement advocacy. Electorally, the merger prevented further fragmentation of the religious Zionist vote, which had suffered from prior alliances like the 2019 with —a controversial pact criticized for legitimizing elements but yielding only marginal gains, with the bloc securing just 19,000 votes short of additional seats. In contrast, the 2023 integration bolstered the party's threshold-crossing potential, as evidenced by Religious Zionism's performance in subsequent polling and local developments, contributing to stability amid Israel's system. Ongoing impacts include enhanced influence within Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, where the merged entity holds key portfolios such as finance (Smotrich) and , enabling policies advancing settlement expansion and religious oversight in state institutions—outcomes rooted in the unified bloc's 14 seats from the 2022 election. This consolidation has amplified religious Zionist priorities in judicial reforms and territorial claims, though it has drawn international scrutiny for entrenching hardline positions on Palestinian issues, reflecting a shift from The Jewish Home's earlier moderation under leaders like toward Smotrich's settler-oriented agenda. The merger's legacy underscores how strategic unions have sustained religious Zionism's role in Israeli right-wing dominance, preventing the dissolution-era irrelevance faced by smaller factions.

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  111. https://www.972mag.com/religious-zionists-opposition-palestinians/
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