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 candidate for Knesset on the B’yachad list. He has worked closely with Naftali Bennett since Bennett entered electoral politics in 2012 and brings extensive experience as a legislative and political advisor in and around the Knesset, having held appointed and elected positions in national and municipal Israeli politics from 2009-2026. Saltan served as Knesset Faction Secretary for Bennett’s party during his tenure as prime minister in the First Bennett Government and currently serves as a party representative on the Central Elections Committee. He was a member of the World Jewish Congress’s Israeli board from 2021 to 2023 and spent years coordinating English-language media, diplomatic and field operations for Bennett and his party. 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. He also serves as a company commander in the IDF reserves and has completed 636 days of reserve service since October 7, 2023. He holds an MA in International Security and Diplomacy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.