Israel Political Parties: National Religious

Established in 1956 through the merging of Mizrachi, Ha-poel Mizrachi and other religious Zionist supporters, the National Religious Party’s (NRP - Mafdal) emphasis is on making Israeli law consistent with halacha (Jewish law). The NRP is largely responsible for the fact that parents can choose to send their children to state-funded religious schools, the establishment of religious courts endowed with legal authority over all issues of personal jurisdiction in the Jewish community and the exclusive use of kosher food in the Army and government functions. The NRP consistently polled roughly 10 percent of the popular vote until 1981, when new religious parties vied for the same constituency.

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