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Religious Zionism Party

Minister of Finance and Head of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich attends the Religious Zionism party primary ahead of the upcoming general election, 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
Minister of Heritage Amichay Eliyahu (left) attends a unity conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, June 22, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Nitzan Alon attends the Herzliya Conference at the Reichman University in Herzliya, July 1, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
July 2, 2026, 2:37 pm
Far-right minister says IDF hostage point man ‘to blame’ for Oct. 7 abductions, killings
Amichay Eliyahu leads coalition backlash against Nitzan Alon for pushing back after Smotrich claimed credit for captives’ return, says top general would have enabled Hamas to threaten Israel again
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
The Judicial Selection Committee meets for the first time in over 18 months in Jerusalem, on November 16, 2023. (GPO)
June 28, 2026, 10:55 pm
After 18-month hiatus, Judicial Selection Committee finally appoints new judges
Following legal pressure through the High Court on Justice Minister Levin, judges appointed to magistrate, family, traffic and youth courts
By Jeremy Sharon
Shas chairman MK Aryeh Deri in the Knesset, June 3, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 22, 2026, 6:06 pm
Almost all bills removed from Knesset agenda as Haredi boycott enters second week
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri warns that unless law benefiting yeshiva students and draft evaders is passed, ‘we will not support any coalition legislation’
By Sam Sokol
Rabbi Michael Melchior in his apartment in Jerusalem on May 14, 2026. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel)
June 2, 2026, 5:54 am
‘God’s wish’: Religious Zionist rabbi still crusading for peace with the Palestinians
20 years ago, Michael Melchior served as Knesset member and government minister when he chaired religious party Meimad; today, he believes faith-based values can yet shape a better future for Israel
By Rossella Tercatin
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri speaks with United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni in the Knesset, December 14, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 28, 2026, 11:10 pm
Plurality of far-right voters oppose government with ultra-Orthodox parties — poll
Likud is only Zionist party with majority of supporters in favor of coalition with ultra-Orthodox factions; 60% of Otzma Yehudit voters and 40% of Religious Zionism voters against idea
By Tal Schneider and ToI Staff
Religious Zionism party chairman and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (R) with new party member Zvika Mor during a press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, May 26, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 26, 2026, 1:40 pm
Zvika Mor, father of former hostage Eitan Mor, joins Smotrich’s Religious Zionism
Former Tikva Forum leader opposed hostage deals, backed comptroller’s October 7 probe over a state commission; far-right minister praises Mor for ‘standing firm’ in his values
By Ariela Karmel and ToI Staff
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