Matan Kahana, 2026 positions · Yashar

This is Srugim's reporting rather than Kahana's own words. Asked directly he called the role very significant and important but declined to commit, and he is building the party's education platform rather than a return to Religious Services.

Who they are

Matan Kahana flew fighter jets for a quarter of a century and commanded two F-16 squadrons before entering politics, and later served as religious services minister. He was born in Haifa in 1972 to Ora and Eliya, spent his infancy in New York and grew up on Moshav Beit Gamliel, where he was a Bnei Akiva instructor. He was accepted to the pilots’ course but signed a waiver in order to serve in Sayeret Matkal, joining the August 1990 intake and spending three and a half years there alongside Naftali Bennett.

When his team was discharged in 1994 Kahana joined the pilots’ course. He flew the F-4 Phantom and then the F-16, returned to Squadron 116 as deputy commander and took command of it, then commanded Squadron 109 at Ramat David. He flew in the Second Lebanon War and in the Gaza operations Cast Lead, Pillar of Defence and Protective Edge. He was promoted colonel in 2015, left the army in 2018 and then ran the diaspora project at the Center for Educational Technology.

He joined the New Right in 2019 and entered the Knesset that autumn. As religious services minister he announced a kashrut reform with Avigdor Liberman opening certification to competition, and presented a government conversion programme. He was afterwards deputy religious services minister. He holds bachelor’s and master’s law degrees from Bar-Ilan University.

Positions and record

Religion & state: Reform kashrut and conversion from within Orthodoxy.

Service: Torah and service are not opposites.

Politics: Followed Eisenkot out of National Unity.

Legacy: The first non-Haredi Religious Services Minister in Israel's 73-year history.

Where they stand

Breaks with the party line on 1 issue, marked below.

Judea & Samariaparty lineNo Palestinian state. Eisenkot has never supported establishing one, and opposition is the only line he has taken on the question.

Two states / withdrawalSovereignty / annexation

Gaza & Securityparty lineA new security doctrine, and an alternative government in Gaza on Israel's terms. Eisenkot pressed for the Rafah operation as leverage for a hostage deal.

Deal & disengagementFull military control

Haredi Enlistmentparty lineEveryone is summoned, the army first and civilian service otherwise, with prosecution for evaders. Up to 3 per cent of each intake may defer a year for Torah study.

Universal draftPreserve exemptions

Judiciaryparty lineA judiciary that is strong, independent and accountable, a Knesset that is sovereign, and a Basic Law: Legislation strengthening the Knesset's own authority.

Court can strike lawsKnesset can override

Economyparty lineWork should always pay more than a benefit, and benefits should follow need rather than sector. Break the concentration groups and open parallel imports.

Social spendingFree market

Educationparty lineCore studies are the condition for full public funding, with a national council setting the core, while budget and authority devolve to town halls and to heads.

State runs the schoolsParents and communities

Religion & Statepersonal positionReform the rabbinate from within Orthodoxy

Civil / pluralistReligious authority

Nation & Citizenshipparty lineA solid Jewish majority for generations, set beside equal rights, equal duties and equal opportunity for every Israeli, with minority rights named explicitly.

Equal citizenshipJewish national state

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