Moshé Redman Slams Religious Public Over Election Intentions

Moshé Redman launched a sharp attack on the religious public in Israel on Friday, citing a poll that he claims shows only 8% of religious Israelis intend to vote for opposition parties. Conversely, he stated, 75% plan to vote for parties he described as "parties that are dismantling the State of Israel or their proxies."

Redman argued that this data demonstrates the failure of the liberal camp's years-long efforts to appeal to the religious and right-wing public. "If there is a kicking proof that the strategy of winking at the right does not work, it is this poll," he asserted. He criticized the prolonged attempts at dialogue between different camps, noting "years of round tables. Years of 'we are brothers.' Years of movements and parties, of leaders who go and become more amiable."

He further intensified his criticism of religious individuals who engage in dialogue with the secular and liberal public but continue to vote for right-wing parties. Redman called this a contradiction, stating, "Whoever truly believes in 'live and let live' could not sit at tables with secular liberals and smile, but then choose those who strive for coercion. This is a contradiction in terms."

Redman questioned the cost to his own camp for these outreach attempts, asking, "How much does this endless wink at some small, imaginary group cost us?" He characterized these efforts as trying "to convince those who do not want to be convinced, those who despise us and laugh all the way to the eternal war." He warned that the price of this policy is "the dismantling of the Zionist project and the collapse of Israel."

Additionally, Redman condemned what he sees as growing trends of religious fanaticism and racism, stating, "Religious fanaticism is getting out of control, racism has become a bon ton." He urged the liberal camp to stop trying to emulate the opposing camp and to more clearly present its worldview. "The liberal camp cannot be a pale shadow of the nationalist camp," he wrote, calling for action in schools, pre-military academies, youth movements, the IDF, universities, and colleges to promote the liberal camp's positions.