Bezalel Smotrich

"We now need to take aliyah and deal with it at the same scale, the same investment, the same intensity with which we dealt with security and settlement," said the finance minister.

"They see Otzma's polls, they saw how strong we are, and they wanted to join," Ben-Gvir elaborated.

During the hearing, the justices sharply criticized the state. Justice Gila Canfy-Steinitz asked the state's representative: "Under what law or procedure were the funds transferred?"

He voted against the January 2025 hostage deal, his own voters demanded he resign, and Ben-Gvir walked out. Smotrich stayed silent for five months. In an interview with the Post, he explained why.

Regardless of who is competing in Israel’s upcoming elections, what must remain a top priority is to keep an eye on which politician intends to do what with the power bestowed upon them.

“I think that right now the Religious Zionist public can and should run on its own as a big, strong, significant party,” Smotrich told the Post.

Katz and MK Yuli Edelstein attended the inauguration ceremony, breaking ground alongside Samaria Regional Council Yossi Dagan and several other members of Knesset.

"From the very first day of the war, we have been wrapping IDF fighters and commanders, in both regular and reserve service, in a huge umbrella of billions upon billions," Smotrich said.

Speaking during a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Zini said Hamas believes it should have pursued the demilitarization agreement with the Board of Peace in order to "trap Israel."

Party members were instructed by their leadership not to leave their offices, and Israel Police are en route to the scene.