Bezalel Smotrich

Outrage on the left over Religious Zionism party campaign video

A Religious Zionism campaign video shows judges and the Attorney General being forcibly dragged away, sparking harsh reactions.

Smotrich unveils plan for judicial system

The Religious Zionism party has presented a comprehensive plan to overhaul the judicial system, making clear that its implementation will be a prerequisite for joining the next coalition.

Smotrich to Eisenkot: “You spread hatred, I forgive you"

Finance Minister responds to Gadi Eisenkot’s criticism of the defense budget: “You can’t talk about reconciliation and healing and then speak like the worst of the online commenters."

Poll

Smotrich and Feiglin win 8 seats, Winter fails to cross threshold

Channel 14 poll shows the right-wing bloc winning 64 seats, compared to 44 for the anti-Netanyahu bloc.

Feiglin:

'This alliance will reach double digits'

Zehut chairman on his alliance with Smotrich: “It’s a technical bloc, and the parties remain completely independent." On polling numbers: “I believe this is just the beginning."

E1 tender moves forward as court rejects freeze request

The Jerusalem District Court has cleared the way for a major E1 housing tender to advance, rejecting petitions to freeze the construction process.

Over expected sanctions

Smotrich calls for expulsion of British ambassador

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for the British ambassador to be expelled ahead of expected sanctions on Judea and Samaria: The British Mandate is over.

Smotrich attacks - Winter fires back

After Winter submitted an independent slate, Smotrich attacked his decision; Amcha Yisrael chairman responds: “The public is asking for new people."

Smotrich hunts for new faces ahead of Knesset slate deadline

Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich says he is seeking women, Sephardim, candidates from the periphery and reservists to join slate - but won’t sideline MKs without electoral gain.

Religious Zionist Party approves

Smotrich to pursue further alliances

The Religious Zionist Party’s central committee approves the technical bloc with Zehut and authorizes Smotrich to pursue additional alliances. The minister directly appeals to Ofer Winter.

Good news for drivers: Gas prices plunge

Order signed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to reduce the fuel excise tax takes effect at midnight. As a result, the price of a liter of gasoline falls from 8.25 shekels to 7.75 shekels.

The union that could skyrocket Winter, Smotrich and Feiglin

Kan News poll puts Eisenkot’s Yashar first with 23 seats, while a potential union of Winter, Smotrich and Feiglin would win 11 seats.

Watch:

Tens of thousands at Selichot prayers at Western Wall

Tens of thousands attend central Selichot prayers at the Western Wall. Smotrich: "We prayed for the success of our soldiers and for victory for the national camp."

Gas prices set to plunge by half a shekel starting Monday

After gasoline prices hit a record NIS 8.25 per liter, a major excise tax cut will take effect Sunday night, bringing the price down to NIS 7.75.

Feiglin on Smotrich alliance:

‘After the election, we each go our own way’

Moshe Feiglin says he has forgiven past tensions with Bezalel Smotrich, but stresses their election alliance is temporary, and the parties will later split.

Poll:

Smotrich-Feiglin alliance pays off - and Winter takes the hit

Religious Zionism gains two seats after joining forces with Moshe Feiglin, while Ofer Winter’s Amcha Yisrael falls from eight seats to five in i24News poll.

Smotrich:

Chief of Staff insisted Givati soldiers face harsh punishment

Minister Bezalel Smotrich claims brigade commanders wanted to close the case, but says the IDF Chief of Staff demanded severe punishment for the soldiers.

Political alliance:

Feiglin and Smotrich agree to run together in elections

Religious Zionist Party chairman Bezalel Smotrich and Zehut leader Moshe Feiglin announced they will run together on a joint list, with Feiglin slated to take the second spot.

Merger moves forward

Smotrich and Feiglin to sign agreement tonight

Religious Zionism party chairman Bezalel Smotrich and Zehut chairman Moshe Feiglin are expected to sign their merger agreement tonight.

Poll: Smotrich-Feiglin alliance wins 5 seats

According to the poll, without a merger between the parties, Religious Zionism remains below the electoral threshold, while Ofer Winter’s party enters the Knesset in its place.

Smotrich backs Givati soldiers jailed over female paramedic

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demands answers from the IDF after hesder soldiers were sent to military prison for refusing to enter a Namer with a female paramedic.

Netanyahu backs Smotrich

We will bring the farm revolution to the Negev and Galilee

The Prime Minister says he would promote the establishment of agricultural farms, stressing the national importance of strengthening Jewish presence in the Negev and Galilee.

Smotrich takes on fuel price hike with last-minute tax cut

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich orders an excise tax cut to offset a planned 16-agura fuel price hike, with the reduction expected within days.

Ben Gvir blasts Netanyahu over ‘cynical’ unity talks

Itamar Ben Gvir accuses Netanyahu and Smotrich of using a staged unity push to pressure Moshe Feiglin into lowering his demands for an electoral bloc.

Likud blasts Ben Gvir:

'Paving the way for a left-wing government'

Likud attacks Ben Gvir, claiming his refusal to unite with Smotrich could lead to lost right-wing votes and the formation of an Eisenkot-led government.

Million Jews and 40 communities:

Smotrich's plan causes uproar in Arab world

Smotrich’s plan to settle one million Jews in the Negev and Galilee has drawn fierce condemnation and calls from the Arab sector to turn out in large numbers at the polls.

Smotrich-Feiglin alliance taking shape

Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin are negotiating a joint election run that could give Feiglin the No. 2 spot as Religious Zionism battles the threshold.

Netanyahu calls on Ben Gvir and Smotrich to unite

Netanyahu calls on the leaders of Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism to overcome the bad blood between them and unite ahead of the elections.

Smotrich reveals

'A million weapons in Arab sector, we will act to collect them'

Finance Minister presents journalists with a series of demands and measures planned by his party, including appointing Simcha Rothman as Justice Minister.

Mansour Abbas sparks political storm with Naqba remarks

UAL chairman Mansour Abbas says Israel’s Jewish identity is a reality imposed by the Jewish majority, triggering fierce attacks from Smotrich and Ben-Gvir.

Minister Smotrich:

'Monument should be destroyed - but not by individuals'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the terror memorial should have been removed long ago, but insisted that only the IDF has the authority to carry out such actions.

Smotrich to Eisenkot

'Will you commit that there will be no Palestinian state?'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on Gadi Eisenkot to clarify his positions regarding interference by foreign countries, continued construction in Judea and Samaria, and the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Big day in Judea and Samaria:

Two communities granted official status as Israeli localities

Karmei Oz and Sahlab received official locality codes, completing years-long recognition processes and enabling expanded services and development.

Watch

Fried, Rabbi Smotrich, and the minister lead thousands in dancing

Rabbi Yerucham Smotrich and his son, Minister Bezalel Smotrich, dance alongside Avraham Fried at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem.

Smotrich launches plan: Fewer reserve duty days

Minister Bezalel Smotrich launched the “Reservists Home" plan, centered on a goal of reducing reserve service to 30 days a year as early as 2027.

Historic moment:

21 years later, first families reestablish their homes in Ganim

'Today, we are bringing life back to Ganim,' Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said at a ceremony marking the reestablishment of the community, 21 years after the Disengagement. 'Ganim will become a huge community-10 times its current size!'

Dozens of illegal structures demolished in northern Samaria

Civil Administration forces carried out a major enforcement operation ahead of the planned return of Israeli families to Ganim and Kadim.

Smotrich to Netanyahu: Don't let Abbas return to Ramallah

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bar Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas from returning to Judea and Samaria following visit abroad. 'Palestinian Terrorist Authority must be dismantled.'

In Judea and Samaria:

Record number of illegal Palestinian structures demolished

New Civil Administration data show record 536 illegal Arab structures demolished in just six months, as Israel steps up enforcement in Area C.

Government expands housing discounts for reservists nationwide

Netanyahu, Katz and Smotrich unveil housing plan offering 20,000 reservists apartments and land, with discounts topping NIS 500,000.

Smotrich launches interactive platform highlighting party record

The Religious Zionist Party has unveiled a new digital platform that allows users to explore its achievements based on their interests and location.

Poll: Likud and Smotrich gain strength

A Channel 12 News poll shows a tie between Likud and Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, with 23 seats each. Netanyahu's opponents maintain a majority of 70 seats.

After terror attack

Illegal PA structures threatening Derech Avraham Farm demolished

The Civil Administration's Enforcement Unit demolished a number of illegal Palestinian structures near the Derech Avraham farm following the terrorist attack in which Itamar Cohen was wounded.

Smotrich and Strock oppose 'dangerous' Gaza framework

Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Orit Strock are demanding that the Security Cabinet convene urgently and halt the entry of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) into the Gaza Strip.

Rabbi Zarbib turns down Religious Zionist Party offer

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich offers Rabbi Avraham Zarbib the secured second spot on the Religious Zionist Party’s list and even considers appointing him as a minister, but Rabbi Zarbib turns down the offer.

Chutzpah

Israel must elect enough committed nationalists to ensure that its next government reflects the will of those voters rather than outside political pressure. Opinion.

'Don't believe the media'

Ben Gvir and Smotrich embrace on stage

After his interview at the Channel 14 conference, Itamar Ben Gvir was joined on stage by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, where the two embraced and insisted there was no rivalry between them.

IDF demolishes strategic Palestinian buildings in Samaria

The Civil Administration demolished several large unauthorized Palestinian structures in northern Samaria following the weekend's deadly terror attacks.

Smotrich to Arutz Sheva:

'The right cannot afford complacency ahead of elections'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News in the final hour of the Religious Zionist party primaries, warning against complacency within the right-wing camp.

Religious Zionist Party unveils Knesset slate following primaries

The Religious Zionist Party on Sunday evening announced the results of its primaries for the next Knesset elections, with party chairman Bezalel Smotrich retaining the top spot on the party's list.

Precedential ruling against AI election ads

The chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, has ordered Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to delete an AI-generated campaign video for being too misleading to voters.

Religious Zionism launches primaries

170 members of the Religious Zionism Party's central committee will decide today among ten candidates seeking to secure a place on the party's Knesset slate.

Outcry over IDF dismissal:

Minister Smotrich calls on IDF Chief to revoke punishment

Minister Smotrich appeals to IDF Chief following dismissal of soldier who posted video supporting his party: 'Punishment is disproportionate. Reinstate soldier to active service.'

Smotrich: Build a new community where terrorists struck

Following deadly Samaria terror attack, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for sweeping military action, evacuation of terror hotspots, and a new community near the attack site.

Reservist dismissed after posting video supporting Smotrich

IDF reservist films a video supporting Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich while in uniform against the backdrop of the Gaza Strip. Following a swift disciplinary hearing, the military decides to dismiss him from service.

Hunger striking farmer denied all alternatives to detention

Tal Yinon Derdik, who has been on a hunger strike since his arrest, has rejected all detention alternatives proposed by the IDF, despite intervention by Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Civil Service Commission approves permanent Settlement Division

The Civil Service Commission's Service Committee has approved making the head of the Settlement Division a permanent position within the Ministry of Defense.

Smotrich:

No need for Israel to enter Iran campaign now

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says Israel should focus on economic pressure against Iran, calling the current confrontation situation favorable.

Democrats support evacuation of Judea and Samaria communities

Majority of Democratic Party leaders openly declare support for evacuation of Judea and Samaria communities, reversing Smotrich's reforms in these areas, and advancement of diplomatic agreements in the spirit of the Oslo Accords.

Following Rabbi Lando's remarks

The advice Smotrich received from Rabbi Ariel

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich addressed comments made by Rabbi Dov Lando, shared advice he received from Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, and praised the Religious Zionist approach.