State and religion: the conflicts of ultra-orthodox jews in Israel.

Abstract

The thesis examines issues of religion and politics in Israel. The thesis is constructed around a critical reading of the literature written on the subject and an indepth first-person interviews with expatriates living in Ultra-Orthodox communities in Israel. After a careful presentation and examination of the various religious groups in Israel and their relationships with the state, the thesis offers a discussion on some of the many difficult issues Israeli society faces over the place of religion. More specifically, it explores the dynamics and processes of inclusion/exclusion of ultra-orthodox communities within / from the Israeli society. It looks at various policy sectors such as military service, housing, education and civil matters to see how the state has tried to find accomodations for Haredi people and how these latter have influenced and informed the ways public policies have been elaborated. It concludes that the historical statu quo on this question is no longer possible as witnessed in the last decade with growing tensions between various segments of the Israeli society. Therefore, the thesis proposes different scenarios to bridge the societal gaps between Haredi communities and the Israeli society.