Rabbi Elishiv Explains How Disengagement Shifted Religious Zionism and Calls for Renewed Public Trust
In a podcast interview with Channel 7 and the Jewish People Policy Institute, Rabbi Netanel Elishiv discussed the profound transformation within Religious Zionism following Israel's 2005 disengagement from Gaza. He described the disengagement as a pivotal trauma that fractured the movement, shifting it from a unifying force within Israeli society to one grappling with feelings of isolation and loss of trust in state institutions.
Rabbi Elishiv explained that Israeli society has moved from a single hegemonic structure to a fragmented social landscape where no group dominates the public agenda. This has led to increased tribalism and a struggle to redefine the state's identity, legal framework, and shared societal rules. He emphasized the need for a new public language that allows diverse groups to coexist without attempting to overpower each other.
The rabbi highlighted how the disengagement sparked a more militant discourse within Religious Zionism, replacing earlier themes of unity and mutual complementarity. While this shift produced a new intellectual foundation on the right and introduced conservative thought, it also fostered dangerous delegitimization rhetoric, where labeling opposing groups as irrational or dangerous silences dialogue. He noted this phenomenon is mirrored across the political spectrum, with each side exaggerating the extremism of the other despite a shrinking core disagreement.
Addressing the current constitutional crisis and public trust issues surrounding Israel's judiciary, Rabbi Elishiv pointed to the combination of judicial activism and lack of diversity in the court system as key factors intensifying the conflict. He also criticized the right-wing camp for sometimes using the courts as a scapegoat instead of fully utilizing political and legal tools available, citing successful changes in settlement policy as an example of effective engagement within the system.
Rabbi Elishiv proposed that the model of Religious Zionism's integration into the Israel Defense Forces, based on mission, sanctity of service, and responsibility, should guide engagement with other public institutions like the judiciary, civil service, media, and academia. He called for cultivating a generation that views public service as a divine mission, bringing values, professionalism, integrity, and openness to differing views.
Despite the deep societal divisions, Rabbi Elishiv expressed optimism, seeing the younger generation as less burdened by past traumas and more open to bridging cultural, traditional, and faith-based worlds. He concluded with hope that current fractures will lead to recognition and repair, signaling a return to constructive progress after a long period of turmoil.
