Bezalel Smotrich

October 7 biggest issue for undecided voters as Yashar! stays ahead of Likud at 23 seats - poll

The opposition parties reached 70 seats, compared to the current coalition parties who received 50 of the 120 Knesset seats, the N12 poll found.

Former IDF chief of staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar Party.
Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir at a press conference, June 22 2026.

Ben-Gvir rules out running with Smotrich for elections, says parties are 'fundamentally different'

Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party head Bezalel Smotrich at the primary count, Jerusalem, July 26, 2026.

'We want them to feel at home': RZP has done 'a great deal' for olim, Smotrich tells 'Post'

Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party head Bezalel Smotrich at the primary count, Jerusalem, July 26, 2026.

Smotrich’s RZP releases primary results, MKs Strock, Rothman secure top slots


Smotrich advances new Samaria settlement after attack near Derech Avraham Farm

Smotrich directed officials to speed up planning for the Shalem settlement and pursue demolition proceedings against alleged illegal Palestinian construction after a stabbing attack in Samaria.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, July 21, 2026.

After third attack in 24 hours, leaders call on IDF to respond to West Bank terror with 'iron fist'

"The incident is still ongoing. There are still people in danger. Terror will not break us," Samaria Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan said. "The response must be offensive."

Samaria Regional Council Chief Yossi Dagan responds to a shooting incident near Gilad Farm, northern West Bank, July 24, 2026.

Netanyahu's Likud falls to lowest position since June 2025 as Eisenkot reaches new heights - poll

A new Maariv poll shows Likud at its weakest level since June 2025, while Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar reaches a record 23 seats and Bennett maintains his lead over Netanyahu in the prime ministerial race.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a Knesset vote, July 16, 2026.

Religious Zionist Party unveils Knesset primary candidates as Bezalel Smotrich leads slate

Candidates running who are currently members of the Knesset include National Missions Minister Orit Strock, along with MKs Michal Woldiger, Ohad Tal, Zvi Sukkot, and Simcha Rothman.

Minister of Finance and Head of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich leads a faction meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, July 6, 2026.

Smotrich announces expansion of West Bank's Highway 465, pushes for new level of 'safety, security'

"The doubling of this important road will create a completely different level of safety, security, and quality of life," said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a statement announcing the project.

Highway 465's expansion was approved.

Tax Authority will immediately stop war damage claims until Bnei Brak mayor condemns mob attacks

According to the letter, Tax Authority employees were violently assaulted by a mob numbering in the hundreds on the afternoon of July 16 while carrying out enforcement activities in the city.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men block a road during a protest against the jailing of seminary students who failed to comply with an army recruitment order on Road 4 near Bnei Brak, July 16, 2026.

Israeli gov't gives Jordan Valley farmers drones, rangers to deter 'Palestinian terror state'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Missions Minister Orit Strock both attended the ceremony at which the equipment was presented to support farms and outposts in the West Bank.

Minister of Finance and Head of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich, Israel Ganz, Head of Binyamin Regional Council and Orit Strock, National Mission Minister at a faction meeting in the Jewish settlement of Givat Harel, in the West Bank, February 14, 2023.

'Desecrating religious Zionism': Bennett slams Smotrich as true architect of draft evasion law

"I want to address the soldiers and tell them: Hold on tight, there are still 104 days of plunder and evasion, the reinforcements are on the way, and this terrible government is going," he said.

Naftali Bennett

Aliyah Minister Ofir Sofer pulls out of 2026 election

In his resignation statement, Sofer thanked his supporters and stated that he will continue to serve in his position until the end of his term.

Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer speaks during a Memorial Day ceremony commemorating fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terror at Kiryat Shaul Military Cemetery in Tel Aviv, April 21, 2026.

High Court cancels Land Authority head's appointment due to connection to Smotrich

The ruling came after all parties, including the government and Eliyahu, accepted a framework proposed by Justices Yael Willner, Ofer Grosskopf, and Khaled Kabub during a hearing earlier this month.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a press conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, July 1, 2026.