Religious Zionist Party

Israel Election 2026: What does Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party stand for?

"If I put this ballot in the box, what government, policies, and political reality am I helping create?"

(L-R) Religious Zionist Party (RZP) MK Simcha Rothman and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich shake hands at the RZP primaries ahead of the 2026 Israeli  election, in Jerusalem, July 26, 2026
The minister of national security Itamar Ben-Gvir

Eight ministers, lawmakers wanted to leave Netanyahu's Likud for Otzma Yehudit, Ben-Gvir reveals

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks with 'Jerusalem Post' Editor in Chief Zvika Klein, August 12, 2026.

The secret Smotrich kept from his wife: Israel was going to war with Iran - interview

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich

WATCH: 'I know how to act responsibly': Smotrich outlines election strategy, plan to draft haredim


Netanyahu, Smotrich squabble over hostage deal talks, Palestinian Authority funds

The Likud and the Religious Zionist party exchanged barbs about policies against Hamas and the handling of the budget.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a press conference with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. January 11, 2023.

Israel-Hamas war: Israel's finance minister can't handle a wartime economy - opinion

MIDDLE ISRAEL: Bezalel Smotrich's utter misunderstanding of wartime economics proves Israel's finance minister should never have been appointed in the first place.

 FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionist Party.

Government faces challenges in approving prisoner exchange deal

The proposed prisoner exchange deal has sparked opposition from the Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit parties.

 Minister of Finance and Head of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich leads a faction meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, October 23, 2023

'Frayed': Is religious Zionism splitting apart? - review

Frayed is a serious and thought-provoking examination of issues of deep concern to many Israelis and can help understand the ongoing tension between the secular and the religious.

 THEN-PRIME MINISTER Naftali Bennett informs the country that he will not seek reelection, at a 2022 press conference at the Knesset.

There is more than one religious Zionism - opinion

The implication that The Religious Zionist Party represents all religious Zionists, as well as religious Zionism, is patently untrue. Rather, they hijacked it.

 FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionist Party, addresses a pre-Rosh Hashanah party event, in Jerusalem last week.

Smotrich to Hayut: 'You dare to invalidate a Basic Law, the responsibility is yours'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich spoke at the right-wing pro-judicial reform demonstration in Jerusalem on Thursday night.

 Finance Minster Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a pro-reform rally in Jerusalem, September 7, 2023.

Racism has infested Israel's religious Zionists and must be fought - opinion

In no uncertain terms, it must be demonstrated to the Israeli public at home and to those who look at us from the outside that racism has no place among us.

 National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir speaks to the media at the Shaare Tzedek hospital in Jerusalem on, January 28, 2023.

Israel's 'religious' Jewish parties want to destroy democracy, morality - opinion

Religious and secular Jews need to work together to take back Judaism from the present institutional leadership’s destructive grasp.

 FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionist Party, and Shas party head MK Arye Deri attend a meeting in the Knesset in May on the state budget.

Smotrich freezes NIS 200m. destined for Arab sector

Many Arab communities currently lack classrooms and schools – approximately 305 are needed throughout the country – and part of the grant was intended for constructing schools.

 Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is seen at a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, in Jerusalem, on July 19, 2023.

Religious Zionism to merge with Jewish Home

Jewish Home has millions of shekel in debt, which the joint party will now share the burden of together.

 Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is seen at a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, in Jerusalem, on July 19, 2023.