Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

Religious Zionism Party

Illustrative: An Arab Israeli woman in the northern village of Maghar votes on November 1, 2022. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)
October 15, 2026, 5:28 pm
Likud, Smotrich say they’ll put 2,000 activists at Arab polling stations on election day
Joint List chief decries ‘racist campaign’ after PM’s party and Religious Zionism cite unsubstantiated fraud claims; Eisenkot vows to end Hamas rule in Gaza in 18 months if elected
By Ariela Karmel, Stav Levaton and Jeremy Sharon
Screen capture from video of Davidi Ben Zion, deputy mayor of the Samaria Regional Council. (YouTube)
October 14, 2026, 8:47 am
Candidate leaves Ofer Winter’s party amid pressure, fear of wasting votes
Davidi Ben Zion, No. 8 in People of Israel party, cites low polling and right-wing campaign urging him to drop out, including posters in his home community
By ToI Staff
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the and Religious Zionism party chairman, tours the Mahane Yehuda Market as part of the party’s election campaign in Jerusalem, October 9, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
October 13, 2026, 6:38 pm
Smotrich: ‘Complete lie’ that IDF troops are burdened because of Haredi exemption
Far-right minister contradicts IDF assessments, claims some 50,000 reservists are willing to return to fight; Haredi youths tear down election signs for new ultra-Orthodox party
By Ariela Karmel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Yaniv Hayun, one of the Israelis who helped subdue a flydubai copilot who allegedly sought to crash a plane full of Israelis, on the passengers' return to Ben Gurion Airport on September 30, 2026. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
October 1, 2026, 8:11 pm
Netanyahu turns the flydubai near-disaster into a perfect campaign prop
As the PM spins a thwarted attack to project strength and potentially boost his poll ratings, the prospect arises of a rotation agreement with Eisenkot to break the looming electoral deadlock
By Tal Schneider
Left to right: The Democrats party chairman Yair Golan in Tel Aviv, July 28, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90); National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, the Otzma Yehudit party chairman, in Jerusalem, September 7, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the Religious Zionism party chairman in the West Bank, September 2, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
September 24, 2026, 5:03 pm
Election panel rejects bids to bar Democrats, Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism parties
All the Jewish-majority slates that faced challenges before committee are cleared to run, after all Arab parties were disqualified on Wednesday; Supreme Court to consider petitions next week
By Ariela Karmel
Legal correspondent Jeremy Sharon appears on the Daily Briefing podcast with host Jessica Steinberg (Flash 90)
September 23, 2026, 1:52 pm
Daily Briefing Sept. 23 – Religious Zionism party doubles down on judicial revolution
Legal correspondent Jeremy Sharon discusses Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s plans to radically constrain the judiciary, and how the sale of Channel 13 was finally approved
By Jessica Steinberg and Jeremy Sharon
An AI-generated video posted September 15, 2026 by Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich depicts (left to right) Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, fellow justice Daphne Barak-Erez, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara being forcibly removed at a protest. (Bezalel Smotrich via X)
September 15, 2026, 10:50 pm
Smotrich assailed for AI video of High Court chief, AG being dragged at protest
Video posted as part of Religious Zionism party’s election campaign, advocating judicial overhaul more radical than outgoing government’s; Herzog denounces ‘offensive AI videos’
By Jeremy Sharon
MK Simcha Rothman (left) and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (right), flanked by masked security personnel, arrive at a ceremony marking the establishment of the new Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Arugot in Gush Etzion, in the West Bank, September 2, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
September 15, 2026, 7:18 pm
Religious Zionism launches plans for more radical judicial overhaul after election
Smotrich posts AI-generated video of Supreme Court justices, AG getting dragged out of protest; Eisenkot calls it ‘despicable,’ Bar Association director slams ‘incitement’
By Jeremy Sharon
Candidates for Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party at the presentation of the party's Knesset slate ahead of the upcoming election, in Rosh Haayin, September 7, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
September 7, 2026, 10:04 pm
No last-minute mergers as most parties submit final Knesset slates for election
Eisenkot, Bennett, Ben Gvir, Winter file independent lists, leaving landscape largely unchanged; Likud expected to submit Tuesday; Smotrich slams Winter for ‘gambling’ with political right
By Ariela Karmel, Stav Levaton and ToI Staff
Moshe Feiglin attends a hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, August 3, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
September 4, 2026, 2:56 pm
How far-right outcast Moshe Feiglin resurrected his political career
After years on the political fringes, the fundamentalist whom Netanyahu once pushed out of Likud has secured spot No. 2 on Smotrich’s slate, putting a senior ministerial post well within his reach
By Shalom Yerushalmi
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (R) signs an agreement with former lawmaker Moshe Feiglin for a joint run in the Knesset elections on September 1, 2026. (Religious Zionism)
September 1, 2026, 9:15 pm
Smotrich, Feiglin announce joint election run, urge other right-wing parties to join
Religious Zionism leader warns achievements of current government at stake in election; responding dismissively to union, newcomer Ofer Winter says ‘people of Israel want something new’
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir seen in the Knesset on July 16, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 28, 2026, 4:05 pm
Ben Gvir refuses Netanyahu’s demand to merge with Smotrich; Likud: He’s crowning Eisenkot
PM’s party accuses the Otzma Yehudit leader of ‘burning votes’ for sake of his ego after he turns down PM’s invite to so much as meet with Smotrich ‘to save the right-wing bloc’
By ToI Staff
Religious Zionism chairman and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich presents his plan to "Judaize" the Negev and Galilee while curtailing Arab building, August 27, 2026. (Courtesy of Religious Zionism)
August 27, 2026, 6:47 pm
Smotrich calls to ‘Judaize’ Negev, Galilee as part of his settlement ‘revolution’
Far-right minister’s pre-election plan would establish dozens of towns for one million new Jewish residents while curbing Arab building
By Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the Negev Conference in the southern city of Dimona, southern Israel, July 17, 2026. (Tsafrir Abayov/Flash90)
August 27, 2026, 4:06 pm
With debutant Winter poised to cannibalize his bloc, Netanyahu has reason to sweat
New People of Israel party seen as most likely to draw votes away from PM’s coalition allies, as well as his own Likud, with rivals and other small right-wing factions already siphoning away support
By Sam Sokol
Former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, speaks at an agriculture-focused election campaign conference at the Drom HaSharon Regional Council building in central Israel on July 27, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
August 27, 2026, 4:05 pm
Eisenkot says two-state solution ‘delusional’ post-Oct. 7, but E1 settlement plan a ‘mistake’
Yashar party chief, leading in election polls, blasts Smotrich and Ben Gvir for spiraling settler violence, says IDF has ‘lost control’ in West Bank
By ToI Staff
Load More

Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community

Sign in or Register

Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Sign in or Register
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.