Bezalel Smotrich

Defense Minister Smotrich? Gantz bursts into laughter on radio

Benny Gantz laughs off possibility of Religious Zionist Party chief replacing him as Defense Minister.

Elections 2022:

Smotrich aims high: Defense, finance, transportation, justice

Smotrich fears that Netanyahu will try to form a government with Gantz and leave the Religious Zionist party in the opposition.

Netanyahu's promise to the Religious Zionism party

Opposition leader MK Netanyahu speaks with Religious Zionism's MKs Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, asking they bring votes from outside the bloc.

MK Smotrich:

We will build a specified program for Diaspora Jews

The Religious Zionism chair met with the head of a program for overseas yeshiva students and discussed the challenges facing Jews overseas.

Jerusalem is burning:

'Shoot anyone who picks up a rock, firebomb or a weapon'

Netanyahu: This is the result of a weak government on all fronts.

'Bennett's voter base has become a stronghold for Ben-Gvir'

'Fascinating changes are coming over the Religious Zionist community,' analyst Zvika Klein says.

Smotrich to right-wing heads:

'Don't recognize maritime agreement with Lebanon'

"Deal should give us sleepless nights; Lapid caved to Hezbollah."

Smotrich:

'Bennett and Shaked went on an irresponsible adventure'

Religious Zionism chairman: History will not forgive those who irresponsibly endanger the State of Israel.

Will Ayelet Shaked drop out of the race? 'Complete fabrication'

Religious Zionism negotiating with Ayelet Shaked to push her to drop out of race, party chief MK Smotrich says. Shaked: Complete lie.

Bezalel Smotrich:

'Gantz and Lapid leading to establishment of Palestinian state'

MK Bezalel Smotrich responds to Lapid's intention to call for the establishment of Palestinian state: A dangerous process.

MK Smotrich:

Politicians who change parties like socks can't grade me

In an extensive interview Religious Zionism chairman discusses union between Shaked and Jewish Home, talks with Noam, and more

Smotrich pushes for United Arab List to be banned this election

Religious Zionist Party head to petition Central Election Committee to bar United Arab List - a coalition faction - from running in November

Smotrich:

'Greatest threat comes from within Israeli Arab society'

Religious Zionism party chairman says next govt. must ensure political parties which support terrorism against Israel are outlawed.

MK Smotrich: 'Shaked must not take a chance and waste votes'

The Religious Zionism head also discussed his plans for the justice system, saying that he intends on making big changes

Bezalel Smotrich:

'Gantz uses religious figures as fig-leaves to disguise Leftism'

"He knows undecided Religious-Zionist voters are going to swing this election."

Netanyahu's promise:

'I won't establish a government without Itamar Ben-Gvir'

Former PM promises he won't choose Gantz over Otzma Yehudit.

A different Israel

That is what former Likud Minister Dan Meridor thinks Ben Gvir's party will create. Op-ed.

Religious Zionism Party source

'We prefer a right-wing government, but Gantz isn't ruled out'

Party won't agree to sit in opposition even if Netanyahu chooses to sacrifice Ben-Gvir to form government with Gantz

Smotrich, Ben Gvir to run together for 25th Knesset

MKs Smotrich and Ben Gvir have once again decided on a joint run for Knesset following a meeting with opposition leader Netanyahu.

Smotrich: I'll run with Ben-Gvir, not with Shaked

Otzma Yehudit leader issues ultimatum after poll shows his party with double the strength of Religious Zionism party.

Poll: Smotrich on edge of electoral threshold without Ben-Gvir

New survey shows Religious Zionism party falling to 4 seats while Otzma Yehudit receives 8, a joint run would net 10 seats.

These are the results of the Religious Zionism party primaries

Party's current MKs take all the top spots in the party list. Smotrich: We have a winning team.

Smotrich and Chikli to negotiate joint run

Chikli is expected to receive three out of the first ten spots on the list if parties are to form a technical bloc

Netanyahu:

'Smotrich, Ben-Gvir must unite to keep Joint List out of govt.'

Opposition leader makes another appeal to Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionism party leaders to unify ahead of November elections.

Netanyahu trying to unite Smotrich, Ben Gvir

Likud fears right-wing votes could be wasted if Religious Zionism party, Otzma Yehudit run separately and 1 of them falls short.

Shaked: I won't run with Smotrich, he crossed the line

Zionist Spirit chairwoman says joint run with Religious Zionism party out of the question after incitement against her party.

Netanyahu explores outcome of split between right-wing parties

On the cusp of Ben Gvir's announcement, Likud is conducting surveys to find out if a split on the right can be favorable

Elections 2022

Ben-Gvir: I will run alone

Otzma Yehudit chairman says negotiations for a joint run with Religious Zionism party have broken down, parties will get more votes apart.

Bibi's solution to Smotrich and Ben Gvir: 7th place for Silman

According to the proposal drawn up by Netanyahu, Knesset member Idit Silman, who resigned from the Yamina Party, will be 7th on the list.

Pundit:

'Netanyahu wants Smotrich and Ben Gvir to run separately'

Netanyahu apparently has reservations over what is the best way in which the right can run and win the elections.

Smotrich: Religious Zionist public will decide the elections

MK Smotrich cares about unity and prefers to conduct the negotiations with Otzma Yehudit behind closed doors.

The surprising statement of the chairman of the Jewish Home

Jewish Home chairman Yossi Brodny at election conference in Petah Tikva: I will never sit in a government with Ben Gvir and Smotrich.

Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, nearing agreement on joint run

Major disagreement centers around who would be the best candidate for the joint party's seventh spot.

Breakthrough in Otzma Yehudit-Religious Zionism talks

Smotrich proposes Otzma Yehudit receive 5 of the top 10 spots on the list. Ben-Gvir: Let's sign tonight.

Miri Regev speaks to INN:

'Smotrich & Itamar Ben-Gvir need to sacrifice their egos'

"Shaked is no right-winger, but the real right-wingers must unite for the sake of our values."

Ben-Gvir's new proposal for Smotrich

Otzma Yehudit offers 4 places for Itamar Ben-Gvir’s party, 4 for Smotrich’s party, and 2 places for Noam and Jewish Home.

100 days to elections:

Itamar Ben-Gvir seeking full merger with Smotrich's party

Religious Zionism party is riding high in polls, but significant gaps delay agreement.

Zehava Galon: Arrest Smotrich and Ben-Gvir

Galon wasted no time pointing the finger at 'settler rioters', while accusing them of fomenting a 'new round of violence'.

Smotrich:

'Don't interfere in how I run my party'

Religious Zionism chairman reportedly furious at the attempts of the Likud to intervene in his talks with Otzma Yehudit.

Netanyahu pressuring right-wing religious parties to unite

Those close to former PM Netanyahu want final union between Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit parties.

Defense Min. response to rocket fire 'weak and feeble'

Defense Min. Gantz refuses to close Gaza crossing in response to rockets, will only freeze increase in number of Gazans allowed into Israel

Smotrich: Rabbi Druckman doesn't trust anything Bennett says

Religious Zionism party chair says Yamina sitting with Ra'am proves its leaders would sit with the Joint List for political gain.

2022 Elections:

Will Ben Gvir & Smotrich succeed in barring Joint List & Ra'am?

If Otzma Yehudit is granted a place on Central Elections Committee, right-wing could gain majority.

Can elections be averted?

MK Bezalel Smotrich: There's still a chance

"For me, elections are the best as we'll gain, but the national interest comes first."

"A bad gamble"

Ministerial committee rejects Sovereignty Law

'A government with the Islamic Movement that relies on Joint Arab List can't even pass the Judea and Samaria law.'

Poll:

The Israeli public has adopted Smotrich's position

New poll shows that the majority of the Israeli public opposes a partnership with Arab parties in a future coalition.

MK Bezalel Smotrich:

'We will not reserve a spot for Nir Orbach'

Smotrich asked whether Religious Zionism Party is willing to reserve spot for Nir Orbach in exchange for his resignation from the coalition.

Mansour Abbas:

'I'm not ruling out coalition with Smotrich and Ben Gvir'

Ra'am chairman says he does not rule out being in the same government with Netanyahu, Smotrich and Ben Gvir.

MK Smotrich:

Israel was very close to applying sovereignty to Judea & Samaria

In interview with INN, Religious Zionist Party chief slams Bennett government's record on settlement enterprise, payments to terrorists.

Politicians respond to Bennett's 'poison machine' claim

'Bennett is encouraging a civil war, 'silent majority' will barely give him enough votes to pass the electoral threshold,' MK Smotrich says.

Smotrich: Govt must stop planned Arab-Israeli procession

To mark a year since the "glorious events" of riots in mixed cities, Arab-Israelis planning huge procession in Lod.

Smotrich: Bury Arab terrorists in pig skin

Religious Zionist Party chief rips government for return of terrorists' bodies .'If we can do something to make them think twice, we should'

Police waiting on political echelon to approve Flag March

MK Bezalel Smotrich calls on Public Security Minister Omer Barlev to approve the annual Jerusalem Day Flag March in its usual route.

Yamina, stop the apologetics

Yamina has to declare proudly that its principles are unifying the country and that it has accomplished much in a very short period.Op-ed.

Smotrich:

'We oppose violence but no one will shut us up'

Smotrich responds to threatening letter sent to Bennett family: Violence is off-limits, but the days in which we are silenced are over.

Smotrich:

'Bennett surrenders to terror, closes Temple Mount to Jews'

Right-wing MKs accuse PM of giving in to lies and terrorism in closing Temple Mount to Jews foe last 2 weeks of Ramadan.

Smotrich seeks plenum session to dissolve the Knesset

Smotrich seeks to use Ra'am's stepping aside from the coalition to convene the Knesset to vote on its dissolution.

Bennett-Smotrich Feud:

PM slams lawmaker's call to ban coalition MKs from synagogues

'How can Jews boycott other Jews from synagogues? That's how we lost our country,' says Prime Minister Bennett to right-wing MK.

Gafni:

'Smotrich responsible for Bennett-Lapid government'

UTJ chairman says he would like to see Benny Gantz being a part of the next government.

Religious Zionist Party chief:

'I feel bad for Bennett - he's tired, angry, and frustrated'

Bezalel Smotrich tears into Prime Minister's COVID booklet, after Bennett mocked his army service.