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religious Zionism

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
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
Israelis celebrate at Damascus Gate during the annual Jerusalem Day march commemorating Israel's capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 war, in Jerusalem's Old City Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
May 15, 2026, 12:01 am
Chants of ‘death to Arabs’ at Jerusalem Day march as Ben Gvir flies Israeli flag on Temple Mount
Extremist youth mobs spit on, curse journalists before religious Zionist revelers crowd into Old City’s Muslim Quarter; 13 arrested; police disperse left-wing group that came to protect Palestinians
By Charlie Summers, Sam Sokol and Agencies
A group of female soldiers take part in a training exercise in the tank commanders' course, in an undated photograph. (Israel Defense Forces)
April 29, 2026, 7:41 pm
Religious Zionist rabbis say students will not enlist in Armored Corps with women
Heads of yeshivot from both liberal and hard-line sides of the Orthodox community express concern about co-ed tank units after High Court instructs military to start pilot program
By Rossella Tercatin and Emanuel Fabian
Demonstrators take part in a march in support of the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men into the IDF, from the entrance to Jerusalem to the Knesset, January 15, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
February 5, 2026, 8:24 pm
Likud casts religious Zionist critics of Haredi draft bill as left-wing agitators
In attempt to counter considerable national religious opposition to bill exempting yeshiva students from IDF, ruling party claims activists are trying to topple the government
By Sam Sokol
Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein, co-head of Yeshivat Har Etzion in Alon Shvut, south of Jerusalem in the West Bank, on December 7, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel)
January 9, 2026, 8:17 am
Leading Religious Zionist rabbi: Extremist settler violence must be stopped from the pulpit
Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein, co-head of Yeshivat Har Etzion in the West Bank settlement of Alon Shvut, discusses the challenges facing his community and the country as a whole
By Rossella Tercatin
Qatargate suspect Jonatan Urich attends a hearing at the Lod District Court on May 22, 2025. (Jonathan Shaul/Flash90)
December 26, 2025, 3:55 am
Poll: Most Israelis say PM should stop working with close aide Urich over Qatargate
Channel 12 survey also finds just 35% say government’s politically appointed October 7 probe will arrive at the truth; opposition leads in election poll, but doesn’t reach majority
By ToI Staff
Religious Zionism MK Zvi Sukkot protests against the detention of Israeli reserve soldiers accused of severely abusing a terror suspect, at the Sde Teiman military base near Beersheba, July 29, 2024. (Dudu Greenspan/Flash90)
November 11, 2025, 4:44 pm
Police question MK Zvi Sukkot over Sde Teiman base break-in
Far-right lawmaker calls probe into last year’s riot a political effort to distract from Sde Teiman video leak, says he aimed to defend soldiers against ‘large and powerful system’
By Charlie Summers
Orthodox Jews accompanied by Israeli border police on the Temple Mount, during Sukkot, in Jerusalem's Old City, on October 8, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
October 14, 2025, 3:06 am
On Sukkot, eroding Temple Mount status quo lays bare rifts in the Orthodox world
As thousands of Jewish worshipers visit over the holiday, Haredim and religious Zionists spar over religious prohibition on touring the flashpoint holy site
By Charlie Summers
Rabbi Yosef Blau, former spiritual adviser at Yeshiva University, addresses members of Smol Emuni, an organization of liberal observant Jews, in a video shown at their conference in March, 2025. (Courtesy Smol Muni via JTA)
August 29, 2025, 8:12 pm
Yosef Blau, author of Orthodox rabbis’ letter critiquing Israel, responds to critics
Last week, the former Yeshiva University rabbi penned what he sees as a contrarian but necessary missive decrying the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Reactions have been mixed
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
The white dome of the restored Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem, as seen on June 3, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel)
June 27, 2025, 10:19 am
Government plan for restored synagogue in Jerusalem’s Old City fuels fear of Haredi takeover
Ultra-Orthodox, Religious Zionist factions clash over management of rebuilt Tiferet Yisrael; critics fear site will be closed to public, exclude prayers for IDF and state
By Rossella Tercatin
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir gestures to a supporter as he walks escorted by Israeli police through the Old City of Jerusalem on May 26, 2025, during a flag march for Jerusalem Day. (Menahem Kahana / AFP)
May 27, 2025, 2:14 am
Marchers chant ‘Death to Arabs,’ skirmish with shopkeepers and cops at Jerusalem Day parade
Ben Gvir slams Gaza humanitarian aid while kicking off nationalist march into Old City: ‘Our enemies deserve only a bullet to the head’; activists erect giant sign urging mass expulsion of Palestinians
By Charlie Summers
Police brawl with Orthodox Jewish men trying to smuggle a sacrificial goat into the Temple Mount compound (left) and the baby goat concealed in a Rami Levy shopping bag on May 12, 2025. (Screenshot/Twitter)
May 12, 2025, 5:11 pm
Cops arrest 9 Jewish men for trying to smuggle sacrificial goat onto Temple Mount
Suspects nearly sneak baby goat in shopping bag into Jerusalem holy site for Second Passover sacrifice, but are foiled by police and Waqf officials who wrestle them back
By Charlie Summers
Sylvie and Yinon Tsuriely join a march in Jerusalem demanding universal enlistment in the IDF promoted by bereaved families and leading reservist organizations on April 2, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel)
April 3, 2025, 5:13 am
Thousands at Jerusalem rally demand all Israelis share burden of military service
‘Sanctify God’s name,’ says activist and bereaved mother in appeal to ultra-Orthodox; demonstrator holds up sign quoting Moses: ‘Are your brothers to go to war while you stay here?’
By Rossella Tercatin
Religious women protest for the recruitment of ultra-Orthodox Jews into the IDF, at the entrance to Jerusalem, November 11, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90)
March 26, 2025, 2:55 am
Religious Zionist Israelis growing increasingly critical of Haredim, new survey shows
Poll says that just over half of religious Zionists recognize ultra-Orthodox contributions to society, down since last year, as more respondents want to see ‘equal burden-bearing’
By Rossella Tercatin
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