Jewish Home party

Religious Zionist head Bezalel Smotrich attends a discussion in the Israeli parliament on the TV-show "Shtula" (Double agent), airing on Israeli TV, November 21, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

November 30, 2022, 6:03 am

How Bezalel Smotrich rode unfiltered radicalism and unforgiving politics to power

The Religious Zionism leader’s political ascent has been marked by extreme positions from the start. He now stands on the cusp of having the ability to realize his far-right vision

By Jeremy Sharon

Then-alternate prime minister Naftali Bennett at a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on September 18, 2022. (Olivier Fitousi/ Flash90)

November 6, 2022, 5:58 pm

Bennett officially steps down as alternate prime minister

Resignation will go into effect Tuesday, comes after former PM agreed with outgoing successor Lapid that no sensitive decisions will be made in transition period

By ToI Staff

Then-Prime Minister Yair Lapid, right, with then-Alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on September 18, 2022. (Olivier Fitousi/Flash90)

November 3, 2022, 10:29 pm

Bennett announces resignation, hopes incoming government ‘will act responsibly’

Alternate PM caps off tumultuous political career, hailing achievements of his government; agrees with outgoing PM that no sensitive decisions be made in transition period

By ToI Staff

Head of the Meretz party and party MK's talk to potential voters in an attempt to convince them to vote for their party, at the party headquarters in Tel Aviv, October 31, 2022, a day before the general elections. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

November 2, 2022, 11:49 pm

Galon still hopes for unlikely Knesset entry; Shaked issues emotional farewell

Two senior politicians projected to crash out of next Knesset issue messages to supporters; Meretz leader says party will chase up every vote with election committee

By Ash Obel

Givat Shmuel on February 10, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

October 28, 2022, 11:57 am

Furious at Bennett’s betrayal, these national religious voters won’t allow a repeat

After backing Yamina in 2021, Givat Shmuel residents feel burned that their votes were used to oust Netanyahu; many plan to hold their noses and vote for Likud or Religious Zionism

By Jacob Magid

Prominent Israeli politicians ahead of the 25th Knesset election: Top row, left to right: Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu, Aryeh Deri, Moshe Gafni; middle row, left to right: Zehava Galon, Benny Gantz, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Liberman, Merav Michaeli; bottom row, left to right: Ayelet Shaked, Sami Abou Shahadeh, Mansour Abbas, Ahmad Tibi, Ayman Odeh. (Flash90, GPO)

October 26, 2022, 9:40 am

Fifth time’s a charm? ToI’s guide to the 39 parties vying for your vote, again

From Netanyahu supporters to those trying to block his return to power, plus a TikTok star and a Telegrass activist, what you need to know about the parties running on November 1

By Carrie Keller-Lynn, Haviv Rettig Gur, Tal Schneider, Jacob Magid and ToI Staff

Ayelet Shaked, Interior Minister and head of the Jewish Home party, speaks during a press conference in Ramat Gan, October 25, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

October 25, 2022, 10:42 pm

Brushing off dire polling, Shaked says Jewish Home will ‘run to the end’

Swatting away reports she may succumb to pressure to quit the race, interior minister affirms her party is staying in, insisting she is the right’s ticket to power

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

View of the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, on August 5, 2021. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)

October 24, 2022, 3:20 pm

Top doctor panned for voicing fear of ‘Arab womb,’ floating fines for Bedouin births

Health minister condemns Gideon Sahar, the head of cardiothoracic surgery at Soroka hospital, for his remarks at parlor meeting with Jewish Home leader Shaked

By Michael Horovitz

Illustrative: Israelis count the remaining ballots from soldiers and absentees at the parliament in Jerusalem, a day after the general elections, April 10, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90/File)

October 12, 2022, 12:21 pm

Polls indicate lukewarm support for Lebanon gas deal; still no clear election winner

Looming gas deal supported by 40%, but 29% oppose; pre-election polls project Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc to receive 59-60 seats and Ayelet Shaked creeps closer to Knesset entry

By Ash Obel

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked arrives for a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on October 2, 2022. (Amit Shabi/Flash90/Pool)

October 6, 2022, 12:50 am

As Shaked seeks right’s forgiveness, it might only be Netanyahu who can save her

A female, secular rarity on the religious right, the former high-flyer is now widely shunned for helping oust its leader, and is struggling to return to the Knesset

By Jotam Confino

Jewish Home leader Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked speaks at the party's election campaign launch in Givat Shmuel, September 20, 2022. (Brenny Ardov - Benovitz Communications)

September 21, 2022, 12:17 pm

Launching campaign, Shaked asks for right’s forgiveness for joining last government

Interior minister disavows Lapid-Bennett coalition, insists she upheld right-wing policies while serving, but refuses to resign

By Jeremy Sharon

Hadash leader Ayman Odeh points during a press conference with lawmakers from the allied Hadash-Ta'al faction as they register their party list on September 15, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 16, 2022, 1:23 am

Arab-led Joint List splits into 2 factions, shuffling political deck at last minute

Drama over rotation deal splinters party into Hadash-Ta’al and Balad, in move that could help Netanyahu back to power; Labor and Meretz finalize independent runs, rebuffing Lapid

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Then-prime minister Naftali Bennett, right, with Ayelet Shaked at the first government conference, at the Israeli parliament, on June 13, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)

September 14, 2022, 10:49 pm

Bennett seems to snap at Shaked: ‘Those who regret [my] government have post-trauma’

Former PM offers veiled criticism of long-time ally as she moves rightward in bid to gain support ahead of election; Shaked defends the shift, saying she’s ‘returned home’

By ToI Staff

Otzma Yehudit head Itamar Ben Gvir (left) and Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich submit their joint electoral list to the Central Election Committee at the Knesset on September 14, 2022. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

September 14, 2022, 7:24 pm

National Unity, Religious Zionism and Yisrael Beytenu submit final candidate lists

Religious Zionism adds anti-LGBT party Noam to its roster just before submitting slate; most parties to finalize their lists on Thursday

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked and Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel at a state memorial ceremony for former prime minister Yitzhak Shamir, at Mount Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem, July 10, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

September 13, 2022, 11:34 am

Shaked agrees to run as leader of Jewish Home, days after split with Zionist Spirit

Interior minister signs deal three days after blowup with Yoaz Hendel that ended short-lived alliance; if move finalizes, party likely to support Netanyahu for PM

By Carrie Keller-Lynn