‘Religious-Zionists unhappy with RZP’

Twenty-four percent of the religious-Zionist community believes Noam MK Avi Maoz represents the values of religious Zionism, compared with 50% who say he does not, according to a new survey.

The poll, which was conducted by Panels Politics on behalf of the Institute of Jewish and Zionist Research, was intended to analyze the views and opinions of the religious-Zionist community in Israel following the recent election and the disqualification of Shas chairman Arye Deri as a cabinet minister by the High Court of Justice.

Maoz was a member of the Religious Zionist Party (RZP) bloc during the election for the 25th Knesset and represents a subgroup called Hardal, which is nationalist haredi (ultra-Orthodox). He is considered to be extreme on issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, family values and topics relating to religion and state.

Among Hardal Israelis, 58% said they believe Maoz represents religious-Zionist values, compared with 24% who said he does not.

Regarding the religious character of the government, the survey showed divergent views within the community. Asked whether they consider the coalition to be more religious-Zionist or haredi in nature, 55% of those who identified as Hardal considered the actions of the current government as consistent with their own religious-Zionists values. When the sample group ranged in religious background, 42% said that was the case.

An overwhelming majority of Hardalim (92%) said the government is meeting their expectations when they voted and that they are happy with it.

“There is a major contrast between those who promote themselves as the representatives of the religious-Zionist community and the extent to which the community actually identifies with them, their values and policies,” Daniel Goldman, founder of the Institute for Jewish and Zionist Research, told The Jerusalem Post.

In another question in the survey, 64% of the religious-Zionist community said they agreed with the decision of the High Court to disqualify Deri as a minister due to his criminal background.

The Hardal community stands in contrast with the general religious-Zionist community and believes Deri’s appointment as a minister was reasonable (36% vs 34%), the survey found.