Religious Right: Slowly but surely, Israel’s right-wing is becoming the religious bloc – opinion

The Israeli Right is undergoing a significant transformation, gradually shifting from a largely secular, nationalist, and security-minded bloc to an increasingly religious and messianic one. This change is driven by demographic trends, as Haredi and religious Zionist populations, who tend to have larger families, are growing faster than secular Israelis. Prominent secular figures, including Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert, have defected from the Likud and the Right over the decades, yet the bloc's overall size has remained stable due to the influx of religious voters. This demographic shift is evident in voting patterns, where religiosity has become a strong predictor of political allegiance. The article suggests that this evolution could lead to a future where figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir, who embodies a religious, ethnonationalist ideology, represent the Right, potentially replacing the older, secular type of politician like Benjamin Netanyahu. The author warns that this growing divide, centered on whether religious law should shape public life, could