Bezalel Smotrich

Tekumah MK

From L to R: Far-right activists Baruch Marzel, Itamar Ben Gvir and Michael Ben Ari confront a police officer who prevented them from attending an anti-mosque protest in Umm al-Fahm on April 10, 2017. (Channel 2 screenshot)

February 20, 2019, 5:04 pm

Extremist party that backs booting non-Jews seen by PM as vital for his victory

Jewish Home leaders had been wary of scaring off moderate supporters by merging with the Kahanist Otzma Yehudit, but PM’s warning of ‘leftist’ threat appears to have won them over

By Jacob Magid

Right-wing activists Michael Ben Ari (center), attorney Itamar Ben Gvir (left), and Bentzi Gopstein at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on March 12, 2018. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

February 20, 2019, 10:49 am

Extremist Otzma Yehudit announces unity pact with Jewish Home

With limited bargaining chips, far-right faction, composed of disciples of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, agrees to slots 5 and 8 on national religious party’s slate

By Jacob Magid

Left, Bezalel Smotrich after winning the election for chairman of the National Union, at the Crown Plaza hotel in Jerusalem, January 14, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90). Right, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits a drill of the Armored Corps in Shizafon Base, in southern Israel on January 23, 2019. (Flash90)

February 19, 2019, 3:00 pm

Netanyahu calls Smotrich’s dad, upping pressure for far-right merger

PM also phones prominent national religious rabbis in continued effort to push Jewish Home to unite with extremist Otzma Yehudit and Yachad parties

By Jacob Magid

Betzalel Smotrich and Rafi Peretz are seen after agreeing to form a joint Jewish Home-National Union Knesset slate, February 14, 2019. (Courtesy)

February 18, 2019, 8:32 pm

Jewish Home rejects Netanyahu invite to discuss merger with far-right parties

Faction heads say they don’t take orders from PM, call on him to ‘set a personal example’ and team up with extremist Otzma Yehudit

By Alexander Fulbright

One (L) of the five Israeli soldiers from the Kfir Brigade who were arrested for allegedly beating two Palestinian suspects in their custody arrives for a court hearing at the Jaffa Military Court on January 10, 2019. (Flash90)

February 17, 2019, 3:20 pm

Officer indicted in case of soldiers who beat Palestinian suspects

Lieutenant charged with failing to prevent abuse of handcuffed, blindfolded prisoners, who were suspected of aiding a terrorist

By Judah Ari Gross

From left, Orit Strok, Yifat Erlich, Betzalel Smotrich, Rafi Peretz and Ofir Sofer posing after agreeing to form a joint Jewish Home National Union Knesset slate February 14, 2019. (Courtesy)

February 15, 2019, 2:16 am

Jewish Home and National Union agree to reunite for Knesset run

National Union boosts standing after a week of talks, snagging number 2 spot on national religious list and rights to ministerial portfolio

By Jacob Magid

Head of the Jewish Home Party Rabbi Rafi Peretz with new party member Yifat Erlich in Tel Aviv, February 13, 2019. (Flash90)

February 13, 2019, 11:55 am

Journalist Yifat Erlich joins Jewish Home party

Writer placed 3rd on religious right-wing faction’s slate; MK Moti Yogev accuses former leader Naftali Bennett of ‘raping’ the party, apologizes later

By Michael Bachner

Head of the National Union party MK Bezalel Smotrich, speaks during an event of the Movement for the Quality of Government, in Modi'in, February 4, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

February 12, 2019, 6:02 pm

Far-right parties heading for merger, National Union leader says

Bezalel Smotrich says Jewish Home, Otzma Yehudit, Yachad and his own party can’t afford to be divided; accuses Bennett of leaving religious Zionist camp

By Stuart Winer

(L) Jewish Home chairman Rabbi Rafi Peretz speaks at the party's convention in Ramat Gan on February 4, 2019. (R) Bezalel Smotrich celebrates after being elected chairman of the National Union faction, at the Crown Plaza hotel in Jerusalem, on January 14, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/FLash90)

February 10, 2019, 1:18 am

Merger talks between right-wing Jewish Home and National Union fall apart

NU head Bezalel Smotrich says Jewish Home leader Rafi Peretz walked back on agreement, leaving both factions unlikely to cross Knesset threshold

By Jacob Magid

Israelis attend a weekly protest against public corruption in Tel Aviv on February 16, 2018 (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

February 5, 2019, 6:16 am

Politicians unite to fight graft. Just don’t ask them what that means

Parties from left to right vow to oppose corruption at good government confab. But each views the scourge through its own political lenses, destroying any harmony on the issue

By Raoul Wootliff

Then-chief rabbi of the IDF Rafi Peretz is seen on February 23, 2012. (Gershon Elinson/ Flash90/ File)

February 3, 2019, 10:12 pm

Former top army rabbi Peretz tapped as new Jewish Home leader

National religious party officials hope prominent figure will help boost appeal, after faction has struggled in wake of Bennett and Shaked departing

By Jacob Magid

Illustrative photo of Israeli soldiers blindfolding and detaining Palestinians. (Najeh Hashlamoun/Flash90)

January 31, 2019, 11:56 am

5 soldiers charged with beating handcuffed, blindfolded Palestinian suspects

IDF prosecutor files indictment against servicemen suspected of ‘slapping, punching, bludgeoning’ prisoners as revenge for attack that killed their comrades

By Judah Ari Gross

Torah scrolls thrown on the floor in Jerusalem synagogue attack, January 29, 2019 (Facebook)

January 29, 2019, 9:58 am

Vandals desecrate Jerusalem synagogue, throw Torah scrolls on floor

Netanyahu says he is shocked by attack in Kiryat Yovel neighborhood; interior minister slams an ‘outrageous anti-Semitic pogrom’

By TOI staff

Bezalel Smotrich after winning the election for chairman of the National Union, at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Jerusalem, January 14, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 14, 2019, 9:40 pm

Hardliner Smotrich wins race to lead influential Jewish Home sub-faction

MK defeats veteran Uri Ariel in National Union race; victory shows shift toward younger generation of anti-establishment settler leaders

By Jacob Magid

Members of the Israeli security forces remove a caravan that settlers had brought to the former outpost of Amona on January 3, 2019. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)

January 4, 2019, 1:52 am

Amid criticism, PM claims he told aide to call off Amona evacuation — report

Military secretary Avi Blot blamed after reportedly failing to relay order to halt in time, but some don’t buy story; defense official admits army gave settlers heads-up

By Jacob Magid