"But for 30 years, Orthodox leaders have tipped the balance between hawks and doves, and have been in a position to determine who forms a coalition and who runs the country"

This quote by Amos Oz is referring to the role of Orthodox leaders in Israeli politics. For the past 30 years, Orthodox leaders have actually had a considerable impact on the political landscape of Israel. They have had the ability to decide which political celebrations form a coalition and who supervises of the country. This has permitted them to tip the balance in between hawks and doves, suggesting they can decide which political views are represented in the federal government. This has actually been a significant factor in the politics of Israel for the past 30 years, and it is likely to stay so in the future.