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Spatial Occupation of Jerusalem and the West Bank by Orthodox Jews: Demographic Extension or Territorial Strategy? Haredi Jews, while sharing no common ground with the Zionist ideal and its inherent nationalism, harbour a blind attachment to Jerusalem, seemingly rendering them permanent fixtures in the city. Their geographical concentration, due to historic factors as well as the will to practice their rites and traditions in an environment which enforces the same social rules, protected from a surrounding society perceived as decadent – that of non-religious Jews – has a political impact on a local level for the city of Jerusalem as well as for the Israeli state. While Haredi Jews don’t support any territorial autonomy plans and are in no hurry to influence the political strategy of the State in international affairs, they always vote massively at municipal elections in order to establish their influence on the affairs of the city and defend their demands, often of a sectorial nature and centering on matters pertaining to that specific group.