Effects of Religious Identity and Ethnicity on the Israeli-Jewish Electorate

• Published in: Israel studies review 2018-12, Vol.33 (3), p.1-20
• Main Authors: Yuchtman-Yaar, Ephraim, Alkalay, Yasmin, Aival, Tom
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ethnicity; Jewish identity; Jews; Political activity; Political aspects; Religious cultural groups; Religious identity; Religious orthodoxy; SPECIAL ISSUE: Israeli Society: New Perspectives on Israel at 70; Voters; Voting
• ISSN: 2159-0370; 2159-0389
• DOI: 10.3167/isr.2018.330302

Ethnicity and religious identity are two major interrelated cleavages within the Israeli-Jewish electorate. Previously, ethnicity’s effect had a stronger impact on voting patterns, while today religious identity is more influential. Former studies conceived religious identity in terms of levels of observance, such as Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox. We claim that each of these groups has unique characteristics independent of degree of religious identity. To test this hypothesis, we measure religious identity as a nominal variable, applying an interactive model that compares the effects of the pairings of religious identity and ethnicity to a common baseline. Data from before the 2015 elections reveal that religious identity has stronger effects than ethnicity: religious groups support the right more than the secular. However, the ultra-Orthodox tend to support the right to a lesser extent than other religious groups. In closing, we compare the role of religious identity in Israel to its status in today’s world.