Religious Zionism Party

A scene on Israel's satirical "Eretz Nehederet" TV show featuring an impersonation of Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir, aired on Channel 12, September 21, 2022. (screenshot)

TV satirizes extremist Itamar Ben Gvir with ‘Springtime for Hitler’ takeoff

In ‘Eretz Nehederet’ homage to song from Mel Brooks’s ‘The Producers,’ Ben Gvir fills in for Nazi dictator, espousing policies against Arabs, gays and ‘lefties’

September 22, 2022, 3:38 pm

TV satirizes extremist Itamar Ben Gvir with ‘Springtime for Hitler’ takeoff

In ‘Eretz Nehederet’ homage to song from Mel Brooks’s ‘The Producers,’ Ben Gvir fills in for Nazi dictator, espousing policies against Arabs, gays and ‘lefties’

By Ash Obel

Religious Zionism candidate Almog Cohen caught on hidden camera speaking to supporters. (Channel 13 screenshot; used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)

September 21, 2022, 2:01 am

Ben Gvir party members caught admitting moderated extremism is a pre-election feint

Almog Cohen says Otzma Yehudit chair’s change in tone has aided faction’s recent successes, compares his strategy to ‘a trojan horse’ with which to enter parliament

By Michael Horovitz

MK Ram Ben-Barak at the Knesset in Jerusalem on June 20, 2022 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 20, 2022, 10:59 am

Far-right party would compel female TV hosts to cover hair, Yesh Atid MK claims

Religious Zionism’s Smotrich, who champions an Israel governed by religious law, slams Ben Barak’s ‘incitement’; MK Stern says party is threat to rights of women, LGBTQ community

By TOI staff

MK Itamar Ben Gvir and MK Bezalel Smotrich of Religious Zionism-Otzma Yehudit registered their party for the upcoming elections at the Knesset, 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

MK Avi Maoz speaks during a plenum session in the assembly hall of the Knesset on December 15, 2021. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

September 14, 2022, 4:59 pm

Netanyahu brokers deal for extremist anti-LGBT party to run with Religious Zionism

Noam head Avi Maoz says he’ll take 11th spot on slate of allied far-right parties

By TOI staff

Otzma Yehudit party member Itamar Ben Gvir (R) speaks with then-National Union faction leader Betzalel Smotrich, during a campaign event in Bat Yam, April 6, 2019. (Flash90)

September 13, 2022, 10:16 pm

Smotrich says extremist Ben Gvir will be senior minister in Netanyahu government

Far-right politician predicts Religious Zionism will be third-largest after elections, and says much of its rise stems from popularity of extremist Otzma Yehudit leader

By Michael Bachner

Religious Zionism Party leader MK Bezalel Smotrich speaking at a conference of the International Institute for Counter Terrorism, September 12, 2022. (Courtesy)

September 12, 2022, 8:18 pm

Smotrich calls for ban on Arab parties, says Arab citizens could commit massacres

Far-right Religious Zionism leader invokes fears of ‘thousands of armed rioters’ attacking Jews, claims nationalist elements in Arab society are Israel’s ‘biggest security threat’

By Jeremy Sharon

August 28, 2022, 10:05 pm

Left out of Smotrich-Ben Gvir merger, extremist Noam party decides on solo run

Netanyahu reportedly promises Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir a cabinet post in merger talks he brokered on Friday, and to include both factions in any future government

By TOI staff

Illustrative: Israeli right-wing lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir gestures to a Palestinian protester during a news conference at the Damascus Gate to Jerusalem's Old City, where he protested police preventing him from entering the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, June 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

August 28, 2022, 2:14 pm

Daily Briefing Aug. 28: Why ToI continues to sound the alarm about MK Ben Gvir

Editor David Horovitz on provocateur MK, surprise rise for Maccabi Haifa; military correspondent Emanuel Fabian on Syria airstrikes, ‘good hints’ on US military plans against Iran

By TOI staff

Meretz leader Zehava Galon addresses supporters after the announcement of the left-wing party's primary results, in Tel Aviv, August 23, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

August 27, 2022, 5:05 pm

Meretz leader denounces merged far-right slate as ‘alliance of thugs’

Zehava Galon bashes Netanyahu-brokered deal between Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism, entertains joint left-wing ticket with Labor

By TOI staff

Far-right MKs Itamar Ben Gvir (L) and Bezalel Smotrich at the Damascus Gate outside Jerusalem's Old City on October 20, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

August 26, 2022, 6:47 pm

Netanyahu brokers deal for far-right’s Smotrich, Ben Gvir to join forces in election

After ex-PM hosts them at his Caesarea home, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit chiefs announce agreement to reunite for November 1 vote, resolving disagreements over electoral slate

By TOI staff

(left) Otzma Yehudit leader MK Itamar Ben Gvir, (center) opposition leader and Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, (right) Religious Zionism head MK Bezalel Smotrich. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

August 26, 2022, 4:39 pm

Netanyahu meets Ben Gvir, Smotrich in bid to press far-right merger

Opposition chief hosts the leaders of Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism at his Caesarea home, as he urges them to reunite before election

By TOI staff

August 24, 2022, 11:39 pm

Polls show far-right Ben Gvir on rise as Religious Zionism flirts with threshold

One survey sees Smotrich failing to return to Knesset unless party merges with Otzma Yehudit, polling at 8-9 seats, in blow to Netanyahu bid to ride right-wing back to PM’s office

By TOI staff

Meretz MKs celebrate the party's primary results at an event in Tel Aviv on August 23, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

August 24, 2022, 1:59 pm

Daily Briefing Aug. 24: Speed round of political inside baseball; managing monkeypox

Following the primaries, senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur gives us the current lay of the political landscape; health reporter Nathan Jeffay on innovative back surgery and imaging

By TOI staff

Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich, left, and Itamar Ben Gvir of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party at an election campaign tour at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem on March 19, 2021(Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

August 24, 2022, 11:10 am

Ben Gvir reaches out to Smotrich amid renewed push to unite the far-right

‘Bezalel, I love you’: Cajoled by Netanyahu, Otzma Yehudit leader softens tone in bid for merger deal a day after Religious Zionism primaries

By Ash Obel