ABSTRACT
Mizrahi and Hapoel Hamizrahi, the key components of the National Religious Party, have played a crucial role in the governance of Israel since the establishment of the state. As for public opinion, the Gush hoped to capitalize upon the latent pro-settlement emotions of the Israeli public to develop support for Gush activities, and to foster a climate of opinion which would be congenial to the policies the Youth and the Gush advocated. The disposition of the key religious parties to choose between Labor or Likud is of profound significance insofar as Israel’s peace process policies are concerned. Skillfully the Youth converted the Greater Israel position into the ideological high ground within the party from which they could wage their contest with the veterans. Political prosperity continues to rank higher in the Labor Party’s scale of objectives than achievement of a Jewish and democratic Israel unburdened by the densely Arab populated West Bank and Gaza.
