Mafdal
Founded	1956 by Rabbi Haim Moshe Shapira and Rabbi Yosef Burg
Leader	Zevulun Orlev
Political ideology	Religious Zionism
International Affiliation	Mizrachi
Headquarters	Jerusalem, Israel
Colour(s)	Orange
Website	www.mafdal.org.il
See also the Politics of Israel series

The National Religious Party (Hebrew: מפלגה דתית לאומית‎, Miflaga Datit Leumit, commonly known in Israel by its Hebrew acronym Mafdal, (Hebrew: מפד"ל)) is a political party in Israel representing the religious Zionist movement. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Haim-Moshe Shapira (חיים משה שפירא 26 March 1902 – 16 July 1970) was a key Israeli politician in the early days of the Dr Yosef Shlomo Burg (יוסף שלמה בורג born 31 January 1909 died 15 October 1999 was a long-serving Israeli politician and Rabbi. Zevulun Orlev (זבולון אורלב born 9 November 1945) is an Israeli politician and leader of the National Religious Party. Religious Zionism, or the Religious Zionist Movement (a branch of which is also called Mizrachi) is an ideology that combines Zionism and religious The Mizrachi (המזרחי HaMizrahi, an acronym for Merkaz Ruhani lit Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Politics of Israel takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Israel is Israel's Political system is based on Proportional representation which allows for a Multi-party system with numerous parties For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Religious Zionism, or the Religious Zionist Movement (a branch of which is also called Mizrachi) is an ideology that combines Zionism and religious Formed in 1956, it is the second oldest surviving party in the country after Agudat Israel, and was part of every government coalition until 1992. Agudat Israel (אגודת ישראל "Union Israel" also Agudat Yisrael, Agudath Israel, or Agudas Yisroel) began as the original Traditionally a practical centrist party, in recent years it has drifted to the right, becoming increasingly associated with Israeli settlers, and is currently part of a political alliance with the strongly right-wing National Union. Israeli settlements are communities inhabited by Israelis in territory that was captured as a result of Jordanian attacks during the 1967 Six-Day War. The National Union (האיחוד הלאומי HaIhud HaLeumi) is a right wing political party in Israel and consists of an alliance of The 2006 elections saw the party slump to just three seats, the worst electoral performance in its history. The Elections for the 17th Knesset were held in Israel on 28 March 2006.

Religious Zionism: Background

The Religious Zionist Movement is an Orthodox faction within the Zionist movement which combines a belief in the importance of establishing a Jewish state in the land of Israel following a religious way of life, in contrast to secular Zionism and Haredi Orthodox movements. Religious Zionism, or the Religious Zionist Movement (a branch of which is also called Mizrachi) is an ideology that combines Zionism and religious Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ For other uses see Israel (disambiguation The Land of Israel ( Hebrew: אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל Eretz Yisrael) is Haredi or Chareidi Judaism is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. The spiritual and ideological founder of the Religious Zionist Movement was Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, who urged young religious Jews to settle in Israel and called upon the secular Labour Zionists to pay more attention to Judaism. Rabbi (pronunciation, although in English usually) in Judaism, means a religious ‘teacher’ or more literally ‘my great one’ when addressing any master Abraham Isaac Kook (1865–1935 was the first Ashkenazi Chief rabbi of the British Mandate for Palestine, the founder of the Religious Zionist Aliyah ( refers to Jewish Immigration to the Land of Israel (and since its establishment in 1948 the State of Israel) Labor Zionism ( Labour Zionism, ציונות סוציאליסטית tsionut sotsialistit) can be described as the major stream of the Left wing of the Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Rabbi Kook saw Zionism as a part of a divine scheme which would result in a resettling of the Jewish people in its homeland, Israel, and, ultimately, the coming of the Messiah. This article is about the concept of a Messiah in religion notably in the Christian Islamic and Jewish traditions

History

Origins

The National Religious Party (NRP) was created by the merger of two parties - Mizrahi and Hapoel HaMizrahi - in 1956. The two parties had run for the 1955 election on a joint list under the name of the National Religious Front. Elections for the third Knesset were held in Israel on 26 July 1955 The founders of the party were Yosef Burg and Haim-Moshe Shapira (both from Hapoel HaMizrahi), who focused its activity mainly on the status of Judaism within the framework of Israeli society. Dr Yosef Shlomo Burg (יוסף שלמה בורג born 31 January 1909 died 15 October 1999 was a long-serving Israeli politician and Rabbi. Haim-Moshe Shapira (חיים משה שפירא 26 March 1902 – 16 July 1970) was a key Israeli politician in the early days of the Throughout the NRP's existence it has attempted to preserve the relevance of Judaism on issues such as Israeli personal status laws, education, culture, and municipal issues such as prohibitions on the selling of non-Kosher food (in prescribed areas, and occasionally throughout a given municipality), prohibiting transportation and public activities on the Shabbat. Shabbat or Shabbos ( Hebrew: שַׁבָּת, shabbāt, shabbes, "rest/inactivity" is the Weekly Sabbath

The NRP has operated a trade union (under the same name as the old workers' party, Hapoel HaMizrahi), a newspaper (HaTzofe) and a youth-movement (Bnei Akiva). A trade union or labour union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages hours and working conditions forming HaTzofe (הצופה The Observer) was a Hebrew language daily newspaper published in Israel. Bnei Akiva (בני עקיבא founded in the British Mandate of Palestine in 1929 is the largest religious Zionist Youth movement in the world today The newspaper and the youth movement still exist today, in sharp contrast to other party newspapers such as Davar or Al HaMishmar that lost their respective parties' backings and eventually shut down. Davar (דבר lit Word) was a Hebrew language daily newspaper published in the British Mandate of Palestine and Israel from 1925 Al HaMishmar (על המשמר On Guard) was a Left-wing daily newspaper of Hashomer Hatzair and the Mapam party in Israel

Post Six-Day War

The seeds of change were sown in 1967, when Israel's victory in the Six-Day War spawned messianic trends among religious Israeli Jews that resulted in many members of the NRP moving further right. Background Suez Crisis aftermath The Suez Crisis of 1956 represented a military defeat but a political victory for Egypt Messiah ( משיח; mashiah, moshiah, mashiach, or moshiach, ("anointed " is a term used in the Hebrew Bible Today the NRP is a right-wing party. In Politics, right-wing, the political right, and the Right are positions that uphold traditional values and/or authorities

Around 1969 a new generation arose in the NRP, led by Zevulun Hammer and Yehuda Ben-Meir, called "the youth" demanding that the party pay more attention to socio-economic issues in addition to its concerns about Judaism and the modern state. Zevulun Hammer (זבולון המר born 31 May 1936, died 20 January 1998) was an Israeli politician minister and Deputy They led the NRP into the right-wing of Israeli politics. Perhaps ironically, Yosef Burg outlived Zevulun Hammer, who died in 1997.

From its inception the NRP maintained an almost constant number of 12 members of the Israeli Knesset. For Beit Knesset a Jewish Place of worship, see Synagogue. The Knesset (כנסת lit In 1981 it shrank to 6 members. The reasons are diverse: An overall reduction in its natural voting population; the political moderation of many Orthodox Jews; its turn towards the right-wing; the growing importance of the right-left schism in Israeli politics; and the rise of Orthodox Sephardic parties such as Tami and later Shas. Sephardi Jews ( Hebrew: ספרדי, Standard Səfardi Tiberian Səp̄arədî; plural Tami (תמ"י an acronym for Tenoa'a laMesorat Yisrael (Hebrew תנועה למסורת ישראל lit Movement for the Heritage of Israel) was a Sephardi Shas (ש״ס is a political party in Israel, primarily representing Haredi Sephardi and Mizrahi Judaism.

The party was unique in that it participated in all the governments of Israel until 1992. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) During this period it was a centrist party, interested mainly in religious matters and impervious to the left-right divisions of the Israeli public. The longtime cooperation between the Israeli Labour Party and the NRP is sometimes referred to as the historic league (הברית ההיסטורית).

2003 government

The NRP was a member on the 2003 government led by prime minister Ariel Sharon and had two ministers in the cabinet. The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and is the most powerful political officer in Israel (the President of Israel being a titular figurehead (אריאל Effi Eitam was the Minister of Housing and Zevulun Orlev was the Minister of Labor and Welfare. Efraim "Effi" Eitam (אפרים "אפי" איתם born July 25, 1952) is an Israeli politician Yitzhak Levi was a deputy minister responsible for the Ministry of Religious Affairs until it was dismantled.

The party helped form the previous government's coalition together with the Likud, Shinui and the National Union, which was based on the following principles:

• A hard line policy against Palestinian terrorism and increasing use of the military for counter terror operations. Likud (ליכוד lit Consolidation) is the major centre-right political party in Israel. Shinui (שינוי lit Change) is a Zionist, Secular and anti-clerical Free market liberal party in Israel The National Union (האיחוד הלאומי HaIhud HaLeumi) is a right wing political party in Israel and consists of an alliance of Counter-terrorism or counterterrorism refers to the practices tactics, techniques and strategies that Governments militaries, Police departments
• Supporting the Road Map for Peace, but with the reservation that the Palestinians should stop terrorism and elect a democratic prime-minister. The "road map" for peace is a Plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict proposed by a " quartet " of international entities the
• Supporting the Israeli West Bank barrier, on condition that it will include the major settlement blocks in the West Bank. West bank walljpg|thumb|Aerial view looking east from the Israeli side
• Finding a solution for those people who cannot marry according to Jewish law by creating something similar to a civil marriage. Civil marriage or secular marriage is a Marriage which is performed by a government official and not a religious organization
• Drafting the Haredim for military service. Haredi or Chareidi Judaism is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism.
• Retaining the Jewish character of the state of Israel.
• Obligating the Shinui party not to act unilaterally in matters of state and religion, and that they would discuss the issues with the NRP and reach a compromise. Shinui (שינוי lit Change) is a Zionist, Secular and anti-clerical Free market liberal party in Israel

The party subsequently left the government and went into opposition.

Disengagement plan

Sharon's disengagement plan caused great controversy within the party. Israel's unilateral disengagement plan ( Hebrew: תוכנית ההתנתקות Tokhnit HaHitnatkut or תוכנית ההינתקות Tokhnit HaHinatkut in Sharon dismissed two cabinet ministers from the National Union in order to achieve a majority for approving the plan in his government. The NRP declared that it was resisting the plan and any removal of Jews living in Gush Katif (in the Gaza Strip). Gush Katif (גוש קטיף "Harvest Bloc" was a bloc of 17 Israeli settlements in the southern Gaza strip. The party, together with the Likud right-wing failed to stop the disengagement plan.

Eventually, Effi Eitam and Yitzhak Levi resigned from the government. However, the four other Knesset Members of the NRP supported Orlev's stand that the party should remain in the coalition and thwart the disengagement plan from inside.

The party's Knesset faction split into two:

1. The Opposition (Eitam and Rabbi Levi) - who had resisted Sharon's plan and see themselves uncommitted to the coalition and government.
2. The Coalition (Orlev, Yahalom, Finkelstein) - had voted to stay in the coalition, but vowed to quit when a Jewish settlement dismantled.

• Nisan Slomianski has not taken a clear position, compromising between the two factions.

On 13 September 2004, the party's "center" (a forum of all party members with voting rights) voted on a choice between Effi Eitam's proposal of immediately resigning from the government and Zevulon Orlev's proposal to leave the government only when it approves an actual removal of settlements. Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Eitam and Orlev agreed that the "center" decision would be binding. ^[1] The "center" supported Orlev's proposal by 65%-35%. Orlev's proposal stated that the party would stay in the government on condition that the government would not hold a general referendum (משאל עם, Meshal Am) regarding removal of the Israeli settlements, which would require a special majority, before the issue could be brought to a decision in the Knesset. Israeli settlements are communities inhabited by Israelis in territory that was captured as a result of Jordanian attacks during the 1967 Six-Day War. If such a referendum would not be held, or if the government would approve a de-facto removal of Israeli settlements, the party would resign from the government. ^[2]

It was decided that the NRP would resign from the government if:

• The government approved the dismantling of Israeli settlements.
• The Knesset passed laws of evacuation and compensation.
• The Labor Party joined the government and the coalition.
• A general referendum on the disengagement would not be held. A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita

On 9 November 2004 after Ariel Sharon declined the NRP's demand to hold a national referendum regarding the disengagement, Zevulun Orlev and the party resigned from the coalition and the government, vowing to pursue general elections in an effort to replace Sharon with a right-wing prime minister. Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " After their resignation, Sharon had a minority coalition of 56 Knesset members out of 120.

The split

On 14 February 2005 Eitam was suspended from the party chairmanship by the NRP's internal court, after he left the government against the center decision. Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Angered at the suspension, Eitam and Itzhak Levi announced that they had officially split from the NRP to form a new party, the Renewed Religious National Zionist Party (now renamed Ahi, on 23 February. Ahi (אח"י an acronym for Eretz Hevra Yahadut (ארץ חברה יהדות lit Ahi (אח"י an acronym for Eretz Hevra Yahadut (ארץ חברה יהדות lit Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable The new party became part of the National Union, an alliance of Moledet and Tkuma - itself a former right-wing faction of the NRP. The National Union (האיחוד הלאומי HaIhud HaLeumi) is a right wing political party in Israel and consists of an alliance of Moledet (מולדת Homeland) is a small Right-wing political party in Israel. At the time the National Union also included the Russian-secular Israel Beitenu party, though they chose to run alone in the 2006 elections. Yisrael Beiteinu (ישראל ביתנו lit Israel is Our Home) is a Right-wing Political party in Israel. The Elections for the 17th Knesset were held in Israel on 28 March 2006.

Alliance with the National Union

National Union-NRP 2006 election logo

Due to their weakening, the NRP eventually decided to run on a joint list with the National National Union for the 2006 election, which included Eitam and Levy on its list. The joint list went under the title of National Union - NRP (Hebrew: האיחוד הלאומי-מפדל, HaIkhud HaLeumi - Mafdal) and won nine seats, of which the NRP were awarded three.

Ideology

Main principles

The NRP is a Zionist party and states that Israel is a "Jewish democratic state". The party's main goal is to contribute as much as it can to the state of Israel and influence its character to be more Jewish, as well as fighting for the protection of Israel and maintaining Israel's security.

The core belief "the Land of Israel for the People of Israel according to the Torah of Israel" commits the N. R. P. to doing everything possible to further the security and integrity of the Land of Israel. The NRP aspires to influence policy from within the government, and thus continue to safeguard Eretz Israel.

Unlike the Haredi parties - Shas and United Torah Judaism - the NRP does not promote the notion of Medinat Halacha (Halachic state), a theocracy run according to Jewish law. Haredi or Chareidi Judaism is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. Shas (ש״ס is a political party in Israel, primarily representing Haredi Sephardi and Mizrahi Judaism. United Torah Judaism (יהדות התורה המאוחדת Yahadut HaTorah HaMeukhedet; UTJ) is an alliance of Degel HaTorah and Agudat Halakha ( הלכה; alternative transliterations include Halocho and Halacha) is the collective body of Jewish Religious law The concept of a Halachic state refers to a hypothetical Theocracy based upon Jewish law (similar to the Islamic theocracies of Saudi Arabia and Iran Theocracy is a form of government in which a god or deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler Halakha ( הלכה; alternative transliterations include Halocho and Halacha) is the collective body of Jewish Religious law

The party wants to retain Israel's democratic character while improving the Israeli people. It aspires to encourage Jews to become better by acting as role-models and teaching Judaism to other Israelis by example. The NRP wants the Haredi Jews to complete three years of mandatory military service.

The NRP emphasises national unity and vows to work as a bridge between the different parts of Israeli society.

Religious and secular, Sephardim and Askenazim, right and left, old-timers and new immigrants – we are all one people. The NRP works toward national unity, absorption of immigration, and bringing people together from all sectors of the population. Without hatred and without coercion. Gently, pleasantly, and with a smile.

They call this principle Ahavat Israel אהבת ישראל ("Love of Israel").

The party is the patron of most of the national religious schools (חינוך ממלכתי-דתי), which teach both Judaism and general mandatory educational subjects such as mathematics, English, literature, physics, biology etc. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Mathematics is the body of Knowledge and Academic discipline that studies such concepts as Quantity, Structure, Space and Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. Foundations of modern biology There are five unifying principles It sponsors some pre-military schools that provide higher education to future IDF officers and commanders. The Israel Defense Forces ( IDF) (צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, lit Besides funding and patronising national religious schools, it also supports Yeshiva schools and Beit Midrash schools, places dedicated solely to Torah study. Yeshiva or yeshivah (jəʃi'və ( Hebrew: ישיבה "sitting (n Beth Midrash ( Hebrew: בית מדרש; also Beis Medrash, Beit Midrash, pl Torah study is the study by Jewish people of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Responsa, Rabbinic literature and similar They also run Yeshivot Hesder, where religious soldiers combine combat military service with learning Torah.

The NRP actively promotes Torah in Israel and strengthens national religious institutions: Zionist rabbinical training institutes, Zionist Kollels, Yeshivot gevohot, Hesder Yeshivot, Yeshiva high schools, and more. The NRP encourages Zionist rabbis to take on active roles as teachers in Yeshivot, and as spiritual leaders in cities and in neighborhoods.

The party believes that the land of Israel is holy and belongs to the Jews on the basis of God's promise to Abraham and later to Isaac and Jacob. Abraham ( Ashkenazi   Avrohom or Avruhom; ابراهيم, {{Unicode|Ibrāhīm}}; Ge'ez: According to the Hebrew Bible, Isaac ( Hebrew: Yitzchak יִצְחָק, Standard Yiẓḥaq Jacob ( Hebrew: יַעֲקֹב, Standard   Yaʿaqov Tiberian   Yaʿăqōḇ; They believe it is God's will to settle all the land of Israel and nurture it. This principle has great impact on NRP policy toward the West Bank and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ^[3]

Religion and state

The NRP's policy believes that Israel should retain its special Jewish character and enhance its commitment to Judaism.

The party argues that affairs of personal status (such as marriage, divorces and burial) should be kept under the authority of Israel's rabbis (or other religious clerics for non-Jews). Betrothal ( shiddukhin) In Jewish law (halakha Betrothal (shiddukhin or Engagement is defined as the mutual promise between See also Get (divorce document For the religious process see Get (divorce document A get or gett ( גט) is Bereavement in Judaism ( is a combination of Minhag (traditional custom and Mitzvot (good deeds or religious obligation derived from Judaism 's classical

The NRP claims that the Jewish state must show respect for the Jewish religion by observing the Sabbath and serving Kosher food in its institutions and organizations (as it applies to the IDF, public transportation, the Israeli police and governmental companies. Shabbat or Shabbos ( Hebrew: שַׁבָּת, shabbāt, shabbes, "rest/inactivity" is the Weekly Sabbath The Israel Defense Forces ( IDF) (צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, lit The Israel Police (משטרת ישראל Mishteret Yisrael) is a civilian force in the State of Israel. )

The party, along with the other Orthodox political parties in Israel would like to see reforms to Israeli law so that converts to Judaism who wish to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return can only be accepted if their conversions were conducted according to strict Orthodox standards. A conversion to Judaism (גיור giyur) is a formal act undertaken by a non-Jewish person who wishes to be recognised as a full member of the Jewish community The Law of Return ( Hebrew: חוק השבות ḥok ha-shvūt) is Israeli legislation originating in 1950 that gives Jews those of Jewish ancestry This is a controversial position as some secular parties claim that it would undermine Israel's connections with worldwide, and especially American Jews. See Who is a Jew? as it applies to Israel. " Who is a Jew? " (Mihu Yehudi? ?מיהו יהודי is a basic question about Jewish identity.

Regarding conversions to Judaism performed within Israel, the NRP has found itself on the same side of the debate as the secular parties, and opposed to the views of the Haredi parties and particularly Shas. The party advocates that the Israeli Chief Rabbinate must act to ease the procedures for non-Jews who want to convert, following the Neeman Committee (ועדת נאמן) recommendations. Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular In Israel, the Neeman Committee was established to solve disputes concerning the process of conversion to Judaism within the borders of Israel which by the Law It also calls for the restoration of the nationality (לאום "Leom") clause on the Israeli identification card. Both issues are connected to recent public debates about Russian immigrants who are suspected of not being Jews according to Jewish law.

The issue of conscripting yeshiva students is a particularly sensitive issue in the party's rhetoric. Historically the NRP initiated the regulations allowing yeshiva students to avoid military service and supported that position over a long time. This came into conflict with the party's ideology and its supporters as the party moved to the right, and as the number of such students rose sharply leading to allegations that many were not really students. Today the NRP explicitly states that participation in the Israeli army is a Mitzvah and a moral obligation, and stresses that its "finest youth. This article is about commandments in Judaism For the Jewish rite of passage see Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Mitzvah ( Hebrew: מצוה . . serve in the elite commando and combat units in the IDF". However, it does not reject any of the current arrangements, nor does it suggest limiting the number of non-serving students in any way.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the settlements

The NRP's views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be summarized as:

• There will only be one state between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea – the State of Israel. This article is about the Jordan River and its valley in western Asia No independent national Arab entity (such as a putative Palestinian state) will exist within these borders
• No part of Israel will be given over to a foreign government or authority.

However, the party does agree to giving the Palestinian Arabs self-governing autonomy, subject to Israel's authority only in matters of security and foreign affairs (such as in borders and diplomacy), without the dismantling of the Jewish settlements.

The NRP reacted to the Second Intifada by demanding a harsh military response by Israel to "root out the terror infrastructure". It also called for disbanding the Palestinian Authority and the deportation of the PLO back to Tunisia. The Palestine Liberation Organization ( PLO) (منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية or Munazzamat al-Tahrir al-Filastiniyyah) is a political and paramilitary Tunisia (تونس Tūnis officially the Tunisian Republic ( is a country located in North Africa. The party believes that Israel can stop Palestinian violence through the use of military force.

The NRP uses mostly religious discourse to justify these positions. Discourse (L discursus, "running to and from" means either "written or spoken communication or debate" or "a formal discussion They stress that Judea and Samaria were parts of the ancient kingdom of Israel and kingdom of Judah and hence rightfully belong to modern Israel. Judea or Judæa ( Hebrew: יהודה Standard Yəhuda Tiberian Yəhûḏāh, "praised Samaria, or the Shomron ( שֹׁמְרוֹן, Standard Šoməron Tiberian Šōmərôn The Kingdom of Israel ( ( KJV Israel in Samaria) was one of the successor states to the older United Monarchy (also often called the 'Kingdom of Israel' Judea is a term used for the mountainous southern part of the historic Land of Israel. Furthermore, the party views the Jewish settlements as an upholding of the mitzvah of settling the land of Israel. Many of its supporters and parliament members are settlers.

Social issues and welfare

The NRP does not adhere to an economic ideology (such as Marxism or Capitalism). Marxism is the political philosophy and practice derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Capitalism is the Economic system in which the Means of production are owned by private Persons and operated for Profit and where However, the party believes that Israeli society and the state of Israel should support the poor and the needy, derived from the 613 mitzvot of the Torah. Tzedakah ( צדקה) is a Hebrew word commonly translated as charity, though it is based on a root meaning Justice See also Mitzvah See also Biblical law in Christianity The 613 Mitzvot ("commandments" (also " 613 Mitzvos term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to The party's most notable figure in this respect in Zevulun Orlev, (who served as Minister of Labor and Social Welfare). However, this issue is not high on the party's agenda or rhetoric.

Criticism

Some critics of the NRP say that it is too focused on the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and that they neglect other issues such as education, social responsibility and Ahavat Israel ("Love of Israel" i. e. of other Jews).

Left-wing critics insist that the party's stubbornness about keeping the settlements is an "obstacle to peace" while right-wing critics say the NRP does not pressure the Israeli government enough to use more military force against Palestinian terrorism. Palestinian political violence or Palestinian terrorism refers to acts of violence committed for political reasons by Palestinians Palestinian groups that support

Criticism from religious parties such as Shas and Agudat Israel scorn the NRP for having been in the governing coalition with an ultra-secular party like Shinui (which is often described as "anti-religious") and for not doing enough to keep the Jewish character of Israel. For example, that the party displayed little, if any, resistance or dismay, against former Internal Minister Avraham Poraz's decision not to enforce the prohibition of selling bread during Passover (when eating bread is a prohibition of Chametz according to Orthodox Judaism). Passover ( Hebrew, Yiddish: פֶּסַח Pesach, Tiberian: pɛsaħ Israeli: Pesah, Pesakh, Yiddish Chametz (חָמֵץ (also Chometz or Chumetz) refers to bread grains and leavened products that are not consumed on the Jewish holiday of Passover

Despite all the criticism, the NRP has had a reputation of honesty and dedication to its parliamentary duties. None of its Knesset members have been accused of corruption.

Members and supporters

Knesset members

The party currently has three Knesset members as part of the 9-seat alliance with the National Union:

• Zevulun Orlev - Head of the party, formerly a teacher
• Eliahu Gabbay
• Nissan Slomianski - a physicist and an ordained rabbi

Supporters

NRP supporters are mainly religious Zionists, who are Orthodox Jews, in some ways Modern Orthodox. Zevulun Orlev (זבולון אורלב born 9 November 1945) is an Israeli politician and leader of the National Religious Party. A physicist is a Scientist who studies or practices Physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning Rabbi (pronunciation, although in English usually) in Judaism, means a religious ‘teacher’ or more literally ‘my great one’ when addressing any master Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox or Modern Orthodoxy) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance As soldiers they are highly-motivated and disciplined and have an excellent reputation of contributing to the Israeli state and society.

Wherever you look, you see them. Members of the national religious community, with the knitted kippot on their heads. "Kipa" redirects here For the supermarket please see Kipa (supermarket. In academia, in economic life, in the educational system, in hi-tech, medicine, the courts, the IDF, even in the media. Each one of them doing their bit of "kiddush Hashem" (sanctifying God) in daily endeavors. In Judaism, the name of God is more than a distinguishing title

Male religious Zionists can be recognized by their colorful hand-knitted kippah (כיפה) (yarmulka) ("skull-cap"), hence their nickname: הכיפות הסרוגות (Ha-Kippot Ha-Srugot, lit. "Kipa" redirects here For the supermarket please see Kipa (supermarket. "The Knitted Yarmulkas").

References

External links

• Official website (Hebrew)
• Party history Knesset website (English)