Religious Zionism Party

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, May 28, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 28, 2023, 10:55 pm

Why Netanyahu has put a halt to a handful of radical coalition measures – for now

A slew of contentious bills and a draft government resolution were all shelved, at least temporarily, on Sunday. Is Netanyahu’s desire for a White House invite the driving force?

By Jeremy Sharon

Young Jewish men hold Israeli flags and flags of the racist, far-right Lehava organization at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City, during Jerusalem Day celebrations, May 18, 2023. (Jamal Awad/Flash90)

May 18, 2023, 11:58 pm

Triumphalism and ethno-nationalism take center stage at Jerusalem Day events

Heartfelt joy for the return of the Jewish people to their ancient capital is being overshadowed by an antagonistic, nationalistic animosity toward Jerusalem’s Palestinians

By Jeremy Sharon

Right-wing Israelis attend a rally in support of plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system, outside the Knesset, Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, Thursday, April 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

April 29, 2023, 4:14 pm

Pro-overhaul protest showed the right’s strengths — and the government’s weakness

Likud voters want gov’t to focus on declining economy, Haredi parties want draft exemption law, religious Zionist voters want continued judicial reform. Can PM satisfy them all?

By Haviv Rettig Gur

Israelis protest against the government's planned judicial overhaul, near the Prime Minister's official residence in Jerusalem, March 23, 2023. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

March 24, 2023, 4:37 am

Police called in as protesters hem in overhaul architect Rothman

Demonstrators surround Ramat Sharon home, seemingly blocking lawmaker’s way until officers able to escort his car through ad hoc rally; protest also held outside Gallant home

By ToI Staff

Jordan's parliament displays a map of modern day Jordan, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza painted with the Jordanian and Palestinian flags, in Amman, March 23, 2022. (Video screenshot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

March 22, 2023, 4:25 pm

Amman’s parliament displays Israel with Palestine-Jordan flag, calls to expel envoy

Hitting back at Smotrich’s use of map of ‘Greater Israel’ that includes Jordan, lawmakers show Israel under Jordanian-Palestinian rule; Foreign Ministry working to ease tensions

By ToI Staff

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh holds a briefing with foreign press at his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, November 10, 2021. (Abbas Momani/AFP)

March 20, 2023, 2:41 pm

Palestinian Authority PM pans Smotrich for saying his people doesn’t exist

Mohammad Shtayyeh says remarks by Israeli finance minister claiming Palestinian nation is ‘an invention’ show ‘extremist, racist, Zionist ideology’ governing Israel

By ToI Staff

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks in Paris on March 19, 2023. (Ynet screenshot; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

March 20, 2023, 5:27 am

Smotrich says there’s no Palestinian people, declares his family ‘real Palestinians’

In Paris, far-right minister says Palestinian nation is ‘an invention of past 100 years,’ and ‘world should hear this truth’; speaks in front of Israel map that includes Jordan

By ToI Staff

Then-culture minister Chili Tropper, in Tel Aviv, April 6, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni‎‏/Flash90/File)

March 5, 2023, 9:39 pm

Opposition lawmaker: Likud asking us to join government to save it from far-right

Chili Tropper says members of Netanyahu’s party have offered MKs from his own National Unity faction coalition spots instead of Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit

By ToI Staff

Left: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on January 29, 2023 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) ; Right: US Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides at Reichman University in Herzliya, September 11, 2022 (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

February 19, 2023, 12:43 pm

Netanyahu: ‘I’d like to calm our friends — Israel will remain a vibrant democracy’

After US envoy calls to ‘pump brakes’ on judicial shakeup, head of Knesset law panel says ambassador would ‘stammer’ if pressed to articulate his overhaul criticism

By Alexander Fulbright

Construction work for new housing in the West Bank settlement of Modi'in Illit, on January 11, 2021. (Flash90)

February 7, 2023, 6:56 pm

Coalition party vows settlement building will continue, despite US request for pause

Religious Zionism says it won’t allow temporary halt to series of measures beyond Green Line, as proposed by Blinken in exchange for PA ceasing steps at UN to help restore calm

By Jacob Magid and Carrie Keller-Lynn

Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu (center) seen after coalition talks at a hotel in Jerusalem on November 16, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 24, 2023, 2:56 am

Who runs Netanyahu’s Israel?

The fight over a tiny West Bank outpost pits the PM against the radical factions in his coalition and opens a window into the inner workings of the new government

By Haviv Rettig Gur

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, January 22, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

January 23, 2023, 6:40 pm

Netanyahu: We’ll fight ‘all illegal building’ in West Bank – Israeli and Palestinian

Gantz calls Smotrich a ‘Trojan horse’ in Defense Ministry; Smotrich says it is ‘parts of the opposition’ that are behaving like Trojan horses

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a press conference with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, on January 11, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

January 22, 2023, 1:13 am

Far-right ministers set to skip Sunday cabinet meeting to protest outpost eviction

Religious Zionism party urges Netanyahu to clarify division of authority over IDF after Smotrich accuses Defense Minister Gallant of ordering evacuation in breach of coalition deal

By ToI Staff

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrives for a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on January 15, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 16, 2023, 11:35 am

Smotrich: My voters don’t care if I’m a homophobe or fascist; my word is my bond

In recording from a few months ago, far-right minister heard saying he could act against LGBTQ community without repercussions from his base; ‘I won’t stone gays [to death]’

By Michael Bachner

Israelis protest against the government, in Tel Aviv, on January 7, 2023. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

January 13, 2023, 3:48 pm

To succeed, anti-government protests need to draw religious moderates

Criticism of the coalition’s radical policies is growing even among those who voted for it; organizers of Saturday’s demos must not alienate those vital potential supporters

By Shalom Yerushalmi