Knesset Insider

The Courage of 1977 Is Needed Again

Jun 11, 2026, 9:41 PM

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Nearly 50 years ago, in 1977, just a few years after the trauma of the Yom Kippur War, the National Religious Party (Mafdal) chose a new path. It recognized that its longstanding political partnership had run its course and made the historic decision to end its “historic alliance” with Mapai.

Today, the national-religious community once again stands at a crossroads. The State of Israel is increasingly coming apart from within. Social divisions are deepening, and trust between different parts of Israeli society continues to erode.

In the face of this profound crisis, the national-religious public must demonstrate the same leadership and courage that it showed nearly half a century ago. When the state is fracturing from within, loyalty to a political bloc cannot come before loyalty to the state itself.

We cannot continue down this path. The time has come for genuine soul-searching and a fundamental recalculation of our course.

About the Author

Jeremy Saltan is a political analyst, strategist and Knesset insider known for his work in the center-right and national-religious sectors of Israeli politics. Over the past 15 years, Saltan has worked as a legislative and political advisor in and around the Knesset and held appointed and elected positions within national and municipal Israeli politics. Among his most recent prominent positions, he served as Knesset Faction Secretary of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Yamina party during the previous administration, he served as an Israeli board member of the World Jewish Congress from 2021-2023 and was a member of the Central Election Committee that organized the 25th Knesset elections. Saltan publishes opinion pieces in the Israeli press and appears on television as an expert on Israeli foreign policy, national security challenges and domestic politics. Among his recent work can be found the advocation for a “new national camp” as part of the philosophy of a “Jewish, democratic and secure” Israel. Saltan has a MA in international security and diplomacy from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.