Israeli Elections Highlight Rise of Religious Zionism and Its Influence on State Governance and Palestinian Territories

Israel is preparing for legislative elections on October 27, marking a pivotal moment in its political landscape. Israeli historian Ilan Baba suggests that this election may transcend the fate of outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, instead posing a broader question about the growing influence of the national religious current within Israeli society and its institutions. This shift reflects an increasing division over the nature of Israel, the role of religion in governance, and the future of the Palestinian territories.

In an article published in the October 2026 issue of *Lomond Diplomatic*, Baba, a professor of history at the British University of Exeter, describes the rise of a movement he terms “religious Zionism.” This current, he argues, merges religious Zionism with elements of Orthodox Judaism, advocating for expanded Israeli control over Palestinian territory and a greater role for religious authority in shaping the state’s policies and identity.

The article is drawn from Baba’s book *The Fall of Israel: For Decolonization and Coexistence*, published by *La Fabrique* in Paris. Baba’s analysis traces the historical development of religious Zionism, beginning with its formation and continuing through recent political and social transformations in Israel. He argues that the current political debate in Israel is no longer confined to the traditional divide between right and left, but instead encompasses deeper questions about the state’s nature, the integration of religion into its institutions, the limits of the Supreme Court’s authority, and the relationship between secular and religious forces.

Baba links the intellectual roots of this movement to Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, who arrived in Palestine in 1904 and is regarded as a key figure in merging the Zionist project with religious authority. At a time when some Orthodox Jews viewed Zionism as a secular endeavor, Kook’s ideas helped bridge the gap between religious and national aspirations.

The movement, which emerged in 1974 following the June 1967 war, was founded by Kook’s son, Tzvi Yehuda Kook, and became a central hub for religious Zionist thought. This movement has since evolved into one of the most influential religious Zionist groups, shaping the ideological landscape of Israeli politics and society.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)