Do you think the Ultra Orthodox Jews are getting more control?

The reality is that Ultra Orthodox Jews, like any other citizen of Israel, have the right to vote and like any other democracy, citizens tend to vote for politicians and parties that represent their interest.

Some people (with a bias, to be sure) have been complaining for DECADES about how "Ultra Orthodox" parties have too much political power. Many Western media, when writing about "Ultra Orthodox" parties in Israel, often mention this resentment as well.

But here is the question: Exactly how do they have TOO much power? What exactly does that even mean? If other political parties in Israel had or have the same number of representatives wouldn't they have the exact same political power?

Also, I have another question for you: Should Israelis who are not religious but who are on welfare by denied the right to vote? After all, they don't contribute to Israel's economy either.

I think you will find that it is not true that most do not work or serve. The extreme right wing crowd that hails predominantly from maah sharrim and the like do not and are causing all the issues with seperating the busses etc. They have been widely condemned by other leading rabbis. The so called 'haredim', 'Ultra orthodox' includes many groups and sects and grouping them together in this way is just ignorance.

That said, the birth rate of the religious is higher and so they slowly will get more votes with their right for representation, as will happen in an democracy.

On the other hand there is a growing anti religious population in Israel that likes to portray all religious people as fanatics and use the fanatics as their example in the largely secular press. Many things said in Israel by the anti religious would be regarded abroad as infringement of religious freedoms and incitement. It works both ways and both parties use the extreme example to incite and this helps no body.

Hi , look , if it wasn't because of some people that keep the culture , it would be a normal and boring country , don't you think that religious people make the country more interesting?

And you know , about the IDF , you have a point... but in another things you can see that the country is mixed up.

In the govermennt .. the people call it a jew country , so at least they need to keep some jews statements , but of what you can see , the shops started to open in Saturday , the holy day for the jews,, so who is taking control?

I regret you are not only incorrect but propagating a canard that needs correction.

Israel has at long last broken away from it's secular,socialist past.It is now at last becoming a liberal democratic state with freedom of religion towards Jews.

There has not only evolved a strong national religious movement but an increasing identification with the state by observant Jews.The fact that a high proportion of Observant Jews now serve in leading posts in the IDF including the Ramat Kal,but also in combat units.It is now the spoilt secular leftists who look for cushy army jobs and who go on Yerida.

Observant yehiva/kolel scholars now serve in Hesder units where they combine military service with religious studies.

At least a quarter of school children are now at state run religious schools.This percentage is rising fast.

Your question is probably based on the left wing press and leftist Knesset members who tried to make a public issue of the isolated incident in Beth Shemesh.This incident involved a isolated small sect who had moved from Mea Sharim and started the same anti -Israeli tactics that they used in the past including visits to make cosy with the Ayatollahs.They were repudiated by the Prime Minister,President and Chief Rabbi.Knesset members intruduce a bill to outlaw their abuse of the Nazi Yellow Star of David.

Observant Jews are not ULTRA orthodox,and are now becoming main stream.

I think it would be an eye opener to visit Israel again and see that your fears are not based on present day facts. It might even be worthwhile experiencing authentic Judaism in Eretz Yisra'el.

Unfortunately yes; however, I think eventually it's going to push the secular Jews to stand up more.

I really can't feel for some of the Ultra-Orthodox, who go against my ideals of what it means to be a productive and, in many cases, religious human being.

There's no such thing as "ultra Orthodox." A person is either Orthodox or they aren't, just as a person is either pregnant or they aren't. You can't be "ultra-super-extra pregnant."

With the right wing in control of the country and its coalition with religious parties, their stakes are getting higher day after day.

Nowadays, they are trying to force issuing laws to separate males from females even on the sidewalks and buses

People started to talk about "clash of cultures in the holy land"

Read this

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,8...