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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 427

National Union 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-interior minister and head of the Yamina party Ayelet Shaked holds a press conference at Kfar Maccabiah in Ramat Gan, on July 27, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/ Flash90)
August 14, 2022, 10:31 pm
Report: Kahana asked that Shaked rule out narrow Netanyahu government — she refused
Yamina lawmaker moving to Gantz’s party also reportedly wanted commitment that Shaked would oppose Netanyahu being first in any potential rotation deal, which she also rejected
By ToI Staff
Yamina leader Naftali Bennett at a protest against the state's intention to close the Hilla Project, outside the Knesset in Jerusalem on August 12, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 18, 2021, 11:06 am
Israel’s coming election may be decided on the religious right
Netanyahu has no coalition without Naftali Bennett. Neither does Gideon Sa’ar. The fight is on
By Haviv Rettig Gur
Naftali Bennett (R) and Bezalel Smotrich of the right-wing Yamina party hold a press conference in Jerusalem on May 14, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 11, 2021, 9:48 pm
Smotrich confirms he’ll split from Yamina and field independent run
Right-wing union that ran together in previous election now looks set to launch separate slates, with Bennett looking to expand party’s appeal
By Raoul Wootliff
Naftali Bennett (L), Ayelet Shaked (R) and Bezalel Smotrich (C) of the Yamina party hold a press conference in Jerusalem on May 14, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 6, 2021, 12:59 pm
Yamina set to split as Bennett, Smotrich fail to bridge differences
As poll shows religious right-wing party would gain 2 seats if it dropped Smotrich’s National Union, the 2 constituent factions prepare to launch separate campaigns
By Shalom Yerushalmi and ToI Staff
Yamina chairman Naftali Bennett gives a victory speech to supporters in Kfar Maccabiah after exit polls are released on March 2, 2020. (Flash90)
March 3, 2020, 2:51 am
Bennett says election delivers victory for ‘annexation government’
Yamina chairman claims right-wing has won vote after exit polls show gains for Likud, vows national religious alliance will remain united after election
By Jacob Magid
Otzma Yehudit candidates (From L-R) Tiran Zeituni, Meir Ben Hayun, Adva Biton, chairman Itamar Ben Gvir, Itshak Waserlauf and Yehuda Epstein pose for a photo after the party announces its slate from January 5, 2019. (Courtesy)
January 19, 2020, 7:45 pm
Left in the lurch by the religious right, Otzma Yehudit party set to go it alone
Ultranationalist slate led by activist-attorney Itamar Ben Gvir also includes mother of terror victim, ex-staffer for disqualified lawmaker and secular farmer from Golan Heights
By Jacob Magid
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett arrives at the Knesset to file the national-religious Yamina alliance's list of candidates for the upcoming elections, January 15, 2020. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90 )
January 16, 2020, 12:44 pm
Bennett vows Yamina will stick together after elections this time
Ben Gvir lashes Peretz for breaking their electoral pact to join national-religious alliance; Netanyahu ally: Bennett nearly fired as defense chief for refusing union
By Alexander Fulbright
(L-R) Ayelet Shaked, Naftali Bennett, Bezalel Smotrich and Rafi Peretz announcing a merger between religious right-wing parties, to be called United Right, July 29, 2019. (Courtesy)
January 15, 2020, 11:07 pm
At 11th hour, Jewish Home drops Kahanist far-right slate to merge with New Right
National religious parties return to nearly identical formula from September election, as Rafi Peretz caves to pressure and breaks pact with Otzma Yehudit
By Jacob Magid
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at a conference organized by the Makor Rishon newspaper at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, December 8, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 15, 2020, 8:20 pm
Bennett resists merger with Kahanist Ben Gvir, despite pressure from Netanyahu
Noting Otzma Yehudit candidate has photo of Hebron killer Goldstein in his living room, New Right head says Likud should take in far-right slate if it’s worried about wasting votes
By Jacob Magid
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) speaks with then education minister Naftali Bennett during a Knesset plenum session on November 13, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 14, 2020, 8:59 pm
Likud again pushing to get extremists into Knesset on far-right slate
Netanyahu reportedly warns Bennett he could lose his defense minister post if New Right does not agree to joint slate with Jewish Home and Otzma Yehudit
By ToI Staff and Jacob Magid
From left to right: Naftali Bennett, Ayelet Shaked, and Bezalel Smotrich, at a campaign event in the West Bank settlement of Elkana on August 21, 2019. (Ben Dori/Flash90)
January 14, 2020, 12:55 pm
New Right, National Union agree on joint run, call for Jewish Home to join them
Parties say ‘the door remains open’ to Rafi Peretz’s faction, which fumes that the unity deal will lead to ‘the shattering of religious Zionism’
By Alexander Fulbright and Jacob Magid
Union of Right-Wing Parties chairman Rafi Peretz (R) and National Union faction chair Bezalel Smotrich at the party's 2019 election campaign launch, March 11, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 14, 2020, 9:57 am
Moments before closing deal, talks between national religious parties blow up
Smotrich’s National Union party says Jewish Home walked back deal to dissolve respective central committees, form new body; Jewish Home says that’s not true
By Jacob Magid
Ayelet Shaked and Naftali Bennett at a press conference in Ramat Gan, where the former was announced as the new head of the New Right party, on July 21, 2019. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
January 13, 2020, 6:34 pm
Nixing right-wing merger, New Right announces independent run
Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked’s party says it won’t merge with others ahead of March elections, saying there’s room for 2 national religious parties to Likud’s right
By Jacob Magid
New Right leader Naftali Bennett (L) and Jewish Home chairman Rafi Peretz. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 13, 2020, 2:27 pm
After left-wing merger, right seeks similar union with growing urgency
With only two days left until slates close for March election, small parties seek alliance to prevent loss of votes, but it is unclear if they can bridge their differences in time
By ToI Staff
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