Russian-Jewish political experience in Israel: patterns, elites and movements

Abstract

Mass Soviet Jewish emigration has turned Israel into the largest centre of Russian-speaking Jewry in the world, and became a critical factor in the local political landscape. This group managed to change the previous right–left balance and thus became a desirable target for any candidate seeking to head the government as well as the majority of nationwide parties. ‘Russian’ immigrants themselves very soon became split over the general issues of Israeli politics (ideological, civic, ethnic and class controversies), that in fact indicted their integration into the local society. Finally, since the late 1990s FSU immigrants are almost equally divided between mainstream and community-centred parties, leaning towards movements that combine both sectarian and nationwide agendas.