Defection from politics is often connected to the “death of ideology” and the perception that there is no real difference between political parties. On the other hand, an ideologically committed group will not deny the importance of politics per se, but may find its political involvement challenged by events and influenced by the prevalent attitude of anti-politics.
I will describe developments in the Israeli religious right in the context of the question of political participation. It is interesting to note the similarity between the rhetoric of anti-politics and that of some of the radical voices on the right. After describing the characteristics of this group, I will note the traumatic effect of its failure to prevent the disengagement from the Gaza region three years ago.
Different political (as opposed to theological) conclusions have been drawn from this failure. One initiative aims to maximize the political influence of the religious minority by creating a “big tent” religious party or even by changing the focus of religious politics. Some think that as a result of the disgust with politics in the larger Israeli community, others may join such an initiative, especially “traditional” Jews.
Another approach views the disengagement (and the danger of further withdrawals) as a result of the rejection of Jewish tradition, and the solution as the replacement of the present leadership (even that of the right) with a religious one.
The most visible proponent of this position is that of the “Jewish Leadership” Movement, which combines a radical political and cultural agenda with a realpolitik strategy of taking over the Likud and working within the political system.
Rabbi Yitzhak Ginzburgh agrees with the diagnosis, but disagrees with the solution. He claims that the problem is not only that of mobilizing a political majority, but insists that the basic establishments (judicial and media) of the state are “husks surrounding the fruit,” which have to be “broken” before the true Jewish State will emerge. In the meantime, he calls for a withdrawal from political activity and, instead, the creation of alternative institutions, which are to be the precursors of the future Torah State.
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Related Book: By the People, For the People, Without the People? The Emergence of (Anti)Political Sentiment in Israel and in Western Democracies