Menachem Begin’s attitude to religion and the 1977 ‘political upheaval’

The image of Herut as characterised by a strong linkage to Jewish religious tradition had a profound impact in the Israeli political arena. It motivated many of the religious and traditional public to support this party and later its successor, Likud. It also provided an incentive for the religious parties to join the government coalitions headed by Likud in the wake of the ‘political reversal’ of 1967. In this way, the public image of Likud as a ‘religious oriented party’ significantly contributed to the transformation of political power from Labour to Likud.