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Religious Zionism Party

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (R) signs an agreement with Moshe Feiglin for a joint run in the Knesset elections on September 1, 2026. (Religious Zionism)
Smotrich, Feiglin announce joint election run, urge other right-wing parties to join
By ToI Staff
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'
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
Ofer Winter at the launch of his new People of Israel party in Jerusalem, August 25, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 26, 2026, 4:43 pm
Ofer Winter’s disciplined political launch threatens to upend the right-wing bloc
The former IDF general’s new People of Israel party unveiled a surprisingly diverse slate on Tuesday, openly challenging Netanyahu and refusing to back down under fire
By Shalom Yerushalmi
Far-right lawmaker Zvi Sukkot smashes a Palestinian 'Martyrs Monument' in the West Bank village of Madama, August 25, 2026. (MK Zvi Sukkot's office)
August 25, 2026, 1:44 pm
Far-right MK smashes monument for Palestinian ‘martyrs’ during IDF-escorted West Bank tour
Zvi Sukkot, aides filmed wielding sledgehammers in Madama; army accuses him of acting ‘deceptively and manipulatively; incident triggers condemnations across political spectrum; PM: ‘Unacceptable’
By Emanuel Fabian, Sam Sokol and Stav Levaton
Finance Minister and head of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich attends the party primary in Jerusalem, July 26, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 7, 2026, 12:38 pm
Smotrich placates coalition on Haredi draft, but pays a cost among settler base
After voting last month to keep ultra-Orthodox evaders out of jail, far-right minister risks losing onetime supporters who serve in IDF and bear heavy burden in wartime
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Protesters from the Arab-Jewish left-wing movement Standing Together block the entrance to the Religious Zionism party's office in Shoham, August 5, 2026. (Standing Together on X)
August 5, 2026, 6:54 pm
Left-wing demonstrators with ‘bloody hands’ protest outside Religious Zionism party HQ
Protesters from Arab-Jewish left-wing movement Standing Together block entrance to party’s Shoham office, accuse Smotrich of funding settler terror
By Sam Sokol
A woman walks near Tzur Misgavi, an illegal outpost in Gush Etzion, in the West Bank, November 17, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 31, 2026, 12:06 pm
God, land and politics: As Israel heads to elections, where do religious Israelis stand?
Bombastic, hardline politicians have become the face of the Religious Zionist community, but recent polling shows that while core beliefs are unchanging, the group is far from a monolith
By Rossella Tercatin
Settlements Minister Orit Strock at the Religious Zionism primary vote, Jerusalem, July 26, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)
July 26, 2026, 11:07 pm
Settlements Minister Strock wins 2nd spot after Smotrich in Religious Zionism primary
Voting limited to far-right party’s central committee rather than full membership; hostage father Tzvika Mor set to be given 3rd spot on Knesset slate, one of two reserved for Smotrich’s picks
By Ariela Karmel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a cornerstone laying ceremony for the Atarot Heritage Center at an abandoned airport in East Jerusalem on July 5, 2026. (ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP)
July 23, 2026, 1:02 am
Netanyahu promises to unite country in campaign video ahead of Tisha B’Av fast
After attacking rival Eisenkot with AI-generated content, PM urges the public to see beyond political disagreements; Religious Zionism, Yashar, Noam reveal new candidates
By Lazar Berman and Ariela Karmel
Immigration and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer holds a press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, December 1, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 15, 2026, 8:02 pm
Right-wing minister critical of Haredi draft exemption efforts says won’t seek reelection
Religious Zionism’s Ofir Sofer said leaving politics over coalition’s efforts to okay exemptions for Yeshiva students, day after Knesset passed law to halt arrests of draft evaders
By ToI Staff
Finance Minister Bezalel Smortrich, left, and Settlements Minister Orit Strock announce a government plan for dozens of new settlements in the West Bank, July 14, 2026. (Courtesy Religious Zionism)
July 14, 2026, 11:13 pm
Government says $431 million allocated last month for 34 new West Bank settlements
Ministers Smotrich and Strock declare a ‘day of celebration’ for plan that is ‘killing’ possibility of Palestinian state
By Jeremy Sharon
Illustrative: Students at Bar Ilan University, November 21, 2024 (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
July 10, 2026, 9:46 am
Top universities come out against legislation to expand gender segregation in academia
Tel Aviv University head: ‘Real, tangible danger’; Hebrew University says legislation would cause ‘direct harm to academic freedom’; Bar Ilan says quality of research would be harmed
By ToI Staff
From left: MK Chili Tropper, former minister Yoaz Hendel, Shira Shapira, and Elyasaf Peretz hold a press conference announcing the formation of a new political party ahead of the upcoming elections, in Tel Aviv, on July 7, 2026. (Flash90)
July 8, 2026, 1:22 am
Yoaz Hendel’s Reservists teams up with ex-minister Chili Tropper ahead of election
Bereaved family members Shira Shapiro and Elyasaf Peretz also joining new alliance; Smotrich’s Religious Zionism to hold primary on July 26 as polls show it shedding support
By Ariela Karmel
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