Religious Zionism Party Pays Price for Its Own Success

Rabbi Shmuel Pruzansky argues that the success of the Religious Zionism party is paradoxically hindering its electoral prospects, while also addressing the issue of Haredi conscription and urging voters to return to the party. Pruzansky contends that if voter support were based solely on ministerial performance, Religious Zionism would lead in polls due to the effective work of its ministers. He highlights Bezalel Smotrich's skillful management of the economy as Finance Minister, resulting in minimal debt increase, foreign investment growth, a strong shekel, and low inflation. As Minister in the Ministry of Defense overseeing settlement affairs, Smotrich, alongside Orit Strock, is credited with establishing or regulating over 100 new settlements in Judea and Samaria, expanding the Jewish population, and making a Palestinian state less likely. Amihai Chikli is also praised for his impactful work in the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. Pruzansky attributes the party's struggles to its ideology becoming mainstream, with many voters adopting its tenets without voting for the party itself. He notes that some potential voters perceive the party as too narrowly religious and prefer to identify as cosmopolitan. The article also touches on the historical shift from the National Religious Party (Mafdal), which focused on religious services, to the current Religious Zionism party, which pursues a more assertive national-religious agenda. Pruzansky further explains that Israeli ministers are expected to comment on all issues, unlike their American counterparts, and that Smotrich's outspokenness, while rooted in Torah, draws opposition from those with more Western-influenced worldviews. A significant point of contention for some voters is the party's stance on Haredi conscription, with criticism that it has not insisted on universal enlistment, including Haredim, and may even support exemptions for yeshiva students. Pruzansky argues that this issue is complex and unlikely to be resolved through legislation alone, citing the existing conscription law and the practical challenges of enforcement, including prison capacity. He suggests that the solution must come from within the Haredi public itself, fostering a sense of shame and responsibility. He also criticizes the notion that Religious Zionism should have left the government over this issue during wartime, labeling it as 'first-level thinking' that ignores the potential consequences of a left-wing government. Pruzansky concludes by urging the party's natural constituency to return, emphasizing the importance of mature political action and compromise, even when it leads to criticism.