Liberal, with a small l

Jewish identity has been an important marker of citizenship and belonging in Israel since its inception. The founders of the Zionist movement and the dominant elites of early statehood remained dependent upon Jewish religion that demarcated national boundaries and legitimated territorial claims. With the establishment of the state, Jewish identity helped create and legitimate a segmented citizenship regime that secured privilege for Jews but also provided religion with jurisdiction and authority. Gradually, and especially in the past two decades, Jewishness became more contested, demarcating not only Jews from non-Jews but also “authentic” Jews from allegedly “cosmopolitan elites,” thus becoming part of populist politics, central to Israeli politics. The complex relation between religion and populism in Israel is demonstrated by the development of two populist parties; the first one we describe as “inclusive” (Shas) and the second one as “exclusionary” (Likud). In the Israeli case religion function both as the positive content of the political community and ideas of Jewish identity and family values; and as the marker of a threat (non-Jewish citizens, asylum seekers and allegedly disloyal secular elites). Abortion policies will be examined in this context of, first, a society and state where religion has a strong impact. Second, a secularizing society where "family values" are contested. Third, rising populist politics, surprisingly, do not pay much attention to abortion. And, fourth, this can be explained by informal arrangement and processes.