Ultra-Orthodox Communities Become Influential Force Within Likud Party

In recent years, ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) communities have significantly increased their presence and influence within Israel's ruling Likud party. No longer relying solely on traditional Haredi parties like United Torah Judaism or Shas, thousands of Haredi members from major Hasidic sects have joined Likud, establishing organized voting blocs and gaining direct influence over ministers and Knesset members.

Yossi Rozenboim of the Karlin Hasidic sect is a key figure in this shift, having mobilized thousands of Haredi voters since 2004. He leads a network of coordinators connected to organizations such as ZAKA and United Hatzalah, and estimates he can deliver at least 1,500 votes to the polls. Rozenboim emphasizes ideological motivations behind this move, aiming to address issues like education, military service exemptions, and community integration, which he feels traditional Haredi parties have not adequately advanced.

Other Hasidic groups, including Seret Vizhnitz from Haifa and Belz, have also formed Likud membership drives to gain political leverage, often motivated by local concerns such as municipal support and education funding. Even some figures affiliated with official Haredi parties maintain ties within Likud to secure broader influence.

The Gur Hasidic sect, historically a political rival of Likud, has recently begun a large-scale membership campaign to reach thousands of voters ahead of upcoming elections. Parliamentary advisor Elazar Gordon highlights the strategic importance of joining the ruling party to shape policy and budgets, contrasting it with the limited influence of Haredi parties in opposition.

This growing Haredi presence is reflected in Likud’s recommended candidate lists, which now include politicians supportive of Torah study and military service exemptions. Estimates suggest around 7,000 Haredi members are part of Likud’s approximately 140,000 total members, representing a significant voting bloc that can sway election outcomes. Some Likud MKs report feeling political pressure from Shas, acknowledging the Haredi faction within Likud as a rising force.

The Haredi community within Likud aims to become a mainstream and enduring element of the party, similar to the settler lobby’s integration, aspiring to a model like that in the United States where ultra-Orthodox voters influence major parties from within. This development marks a long-term political evolution inside Israel’s dominant party.