Chapter 16: Voices From Among The Zionist Religious Community Regarding The Peace Process And The Disengagement Plan

Religious Zionists are a very active segment of the Jewish Israeli population. They make up the absolute majority of the population on the West Bank, called “Judea and Samaria” by Israelis. Having their own unique separate school system, they, like no other segment of Israeli society, are able to mobilize thousands of their members for right-wing-oriented political activism.

Despite the fact that religious Zionists have substantial influence on Israel’s society and future, there seems to be very little literature on their ideology regarding the current peace process and the plan of disengagement from the Gaza Strip, a religious Zionist stronghold called “Gush Katif.” Individual opinions are voiced, but they have not been systematically analyzed. This points to a theoretical gap whereby many do not recognize the unique religious Zionist ways of thinking, especially concerning the deeply controversial peace process issues at hand. Conceptually, these are still uncharted waters. Exploring the gap and understanding at least some of the voices from among the Zionist religious community may enhance communications with this community and help initiate peace education projects within the religious Zionist schools.