Former Jewish Home Leaders Launch New Political Initiative for National-Religious Community

Around 200 activists from the Jewish Home party and the national-religious community gathered yesterday in the Nahalim moshav for their first political conference. The event aimed to explore the creation of a new political framework to represent the national-religious public, which many feel is currently underrepresented. Attendees included rabbis, academics, public figures, and activists from across the national-religious spectrum, as well as former Knesset members Moti Yogev and Zevulun Kalfa, retired Brigadier General Ofer Winter, and representatives from the Druze and Bedouin communities.

The initiative is led by former Knesset members Yogev and Kalfa alongside lawyers Shuki Zohar and Kuti Tanaami, Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim, Naomi Diskin, and Shifra Agami. Following the conference’s success, organizers plan to continue with further meetings, home gatherings, and collaborations with other groups to establish a broad political home for the national-religious public.

Brigadier General (res.) Ofer Winter delivered the opening speech, outlining his security vision for Israel and addressing the contentious issue of Haredi conscription. He emphasized opposition to forced enlistment but advocated significant incentives for those serving in the IDF and security forces. The event included an open discussion on expanding political representation, strengthening Jewish identity, the role of national-religious leadership in municipal religious councils, and fostering wider cooperation.

Participants expressed disappointment with current political representation, citing a lack of communication and support from elected officials since the last elections. Concerns were also raised about the diminishing influence of city rabbis and religious councils, which contributed to calls for forming a new political framework to better serve the national-religious community.