Israel Needs a Zionist Party

There is a truism in Israeli politics that Israeli elections are not about issues, but rather personalities. 

This would certainly explain why Israeli elections, unlike American ones, eschew debates and downplay party platforms. It would also explain why Netanyahu’s biggest political rivals in the last five years, most notably Benny Gantz, resemble him so much when it comes to the most significant political issues of the day — issues such as religion and state, foreign policy, the administration of the West Bank, immigration, etc.  

One of the lessons of the most recent election, however, is that this truism has become false. Issues matter, and the people of Israel voted in big numbers for politicians who are passionate about issues. 

The result is a government loaded with ideologues who want to reshape the state in accordance with their ideology. They want to eliminate non-Jewish immigration to Israel, they want to scale back LGBT rights, they want to deepen and entrench Israel’s settlement of the West Bank, and they want to mutilate the court system so as to tilt the scales of the Jewish Democracy away from democracy.

For Israelis who agree with this ideology, making a choice on election day was a simple affair. The far-right united under the banner of “Religious Zionism,” a name which signaled, in clear and unambiguous language, that these politicians believe in something. 

For Israelis who voted for the other bloc, election day was far less simple. The parties of the “center-left” (itself a rather parve and uninspiring name for a political camp) came together around vague and senseless terms like “change,” “unity,” and “stateliness.” 

For years now, the center-left has proceeded as if this is a winning strategy, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. The Israeli populace does not want a cipher in suit running the country, and isn’t motivated to vote by inoffensive platitudes.

On the off chance that the opposition learns their lesson in time for the next election, I offer my humble suggestion for an ideological banner which could unite their half of the electorate and inspire passion among the voting public: Zionism. 

The first step would be reminding the public what Zionism means. In today’s political parlance, it has become synonymous with loyalty to Israel as a Jewish state. Hence the parties that are deemed “non-Zionist” are the Arab parties and the Haredi parties. All the others, from Meretz and Labor on the left to the far-right parties of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, are all understood to be Zionist by default.

It is therefore time for Israelis to be reminded that “Zionism” represents specific values and a specific worldview, and can therefore serve as an answer to the most pressing questions facing the country. 

In truth, however, Zionism means more than this. It is not a catch-all term, nor a synonym for loyalty to a vaguely-defined Jewish state. It is therefore time for Israelis to be reminded that “Zionism” represents specific values and a specific worldview, and can therefore serve as an answer to the most pressing questions facing the country. 

A Zionist party would take a principled stand on the occupation, and would frame the issue in terms that resonate with the Israeli public. Zionism has always centered Jewish political independence. The current state of affairs in the West Bank cannot be called independence. Rather, it is a state of codependency. A stagnant peace process and an entrenched occupation means that for most people in the world, Israel cannot be mentioned without also mentioning “Palestine” in the same breath. A Zionist party would recognize this as an affront and a threat to a viable, secure future for the Jewish state.

A Zionist party would take a stand on matters of religion and state. Zionism was always a movement for a Jewish state, not a Halachic state, and a Zionist party would pursue policies that ensure that all Jews — from the ultra-Orthodox to the solidly secular — will feel a sense of belonging in the public space.

A Zionist party wouldn’t back down from Israel’s historic mission to aid in the ingathering of Jews — including the descendants of Jews — in the land of Israel. It would thus oppose alterations or limits to the Law of Return, and advocate fiercely for a sane, accessible conversion process for those immigrants who choose to undergo a halachic conversion.

A Zionist party would push for Israel to take its place among the best of nations in matters of human rights, justice, economic growth, cultural achievement, health, and quality of life. It would place these matters at the very top of its agenda. 

A Zionist party would push for Israel to take its place among the best of nations in matters of human rights, justice, economic growth, cultural achievement, health, and quality of life. It would place these matters at the very top of its agenda. 

A Zionist party would value the security and safety of all its citizens and residents. It would prioritize strength and would not flinch from a fight, but it would also understand that only a lasting peace can bring lasting security. 

In the era of “Religious Zionism,” hiding from the issues is no longer an option for the center-left. If they want the people of Israel to vote for them, they need to take a stand.

Zionism remains the most powerful tool at their disposal. After all, it is an idea that has proven effective at mobilizing the Jewish people in the past. It can do so again.

Matthew Schultz is the author of the essay collection “What Came Before” (2020). He is a rabbinical student at Hebrew College in Newton, Massachusetts.