Religious Jewry was split between the ultra-orthodoxy of Agudat Israel and religious nationalism, led by Mizrachi. Within each of these movements there was a radical faction which was close to the Labour Movement and more in sympathy with the Zionist leadership – Ha-Po'el Ha-Mizrachi and Po'alei Agudat Israel. Another internal division which was imperceptible at the beginning yet highly significant in conceptual terms was that between Jews from eastern and central Europe. Judaism in the West had incorporated the ideas of the Enlightenment and general philosophy, but had at the same time been aware of the consequences of emancipation, and of increased assimilation in particular.

Religious Jewry lacked a comprehensive and coherent political doctrine based on Jewish law (Halacha). The Zionism of religious Jewry is imbued with tension whenever it refers to the secular foundations of nationalism, finding itself in an inherent imbalance vis-à-vis historical reality because of the concepts of messianism and redemption. Although it might be going too far to claim that the long period without political sovereignty had weakened the Jews' political judgment, religion was not able to afford a normative or practical view of political issues that would give rise to a prudent course of action. It could even be claimed that the believing Jew's ethical precepts concerning matters of government are unclear when it comes to military and political matters. They are concerned primarily with behaviour within the community and conduct towards a foreign ruler, not with the government of a sovereign state.

The connection between religion and policy emerges as nebulous and incoherent in most cases.