A number of religious "swing" parties represent specific ideologies within Judaism. They appeal to the electorate because of their stand on religious issues and the leadership of charismatic religious personalities.
However, religious parties were created to handle religious needs. The electorate did not trust the major parties to provide those essentials.
Unfortunately, the idea backfired. If there had been no religious parties, then the major parties would make an effort to meet the needs of a potentially large constituency. However, since religious parties were created, the major parties now have an excuse to wash their hands of religious issues.
Those who insisted on the need for religious parties have erred. Can the situation be reversed?
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