Bezalel Smotrich

RZP, Shas recommend Netanyahu in mandate talks with Herzog, Yisrael Beytenu backs Eisenkot

The consultations began with a delegation from Religious Zionist Party after a delay caused by a security screening machine that triggered an alert while screening visitors.

Members of the Religious Zionist Party, Minister Orit Strock, Itamar Eitam and Zvika Mor, meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem during consultations with political parties following the elections to the 26th Knesset, November 4, 2026.
Otzma Yehudit party chairman and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, alongside members of his party, at the party’s election headquarters in Modiin, on Israel’s general election night, October 28, 2026.

Several parties declare who they will recommend for PM ahead of presidential consultations

Israeli soldiers deploy in the West Bank city of Hebron as Palestinian residents protest against their forced displacement from their homes amid an ongoing Israeli military operation and restrictions on movement in parts of the city, November 1, 2026.

IDF ends controversial Hebron operation after days of terror probe, forced evacuations

Then-head of the National Union party MK Betzalel Smotrich and attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir attend Otzma Yehudit party's election campaign event in Bat Yam on April 06, 2019.

Israel cannot defeat extremism by embracing it - opinion


Netanyahu's right-wing bloc strains as Likud slides, Eisenkot surges ahead of list deadline

Likud is sliding, Eisenkot is surging, and the right is splintering. The Deep Dive maps the frantic scramble before Israel's parties lock in their final Knesset lists next week.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett.

Ofer Winter condition for joining government: Universal draft law passed before coalition formed

“We will not join a government that does not pass, before it is formed, a law that puts an end to draft evasion and requires everyone to report for service and contribute,” Winter said.

Amcha Yisrael party chairman Ofer Winter speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv, September 2, 2026.

Liberman urges opposition to forge alliances with small parties near electoral threshold

"I call on the leaders of the serving bloc to act responsibly; we must all make one final effort to try to forge alliances," he continued.

Avigdor Liberman leads Yisrael Beytenu, it is polling at around 10 seats.

Smotrich, Feiglin sign on joint run ahead of October elections, call for broad right wing alliance

The alliance comes ahead of the deadline for submitting party lists next week and as a group of small right-wing parties continues to fail to pass the electoral threshold in recent polling.

Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party head Bezalel Smotrich and right-wing politician Moshe Feiglin sign agreement for joint run in October elections, September 1, 2026.

MK Gotliv accuses Netanyahu of pushing her down Likud list due to secret judicial reform deal

Gotliv later hinted at a political future outside Likud and said she was considering leaving for another right-wing party, saying “I would consider it seriously.”

MK Tally Gotliv attends a House committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on, June 15, 2026.

Iran targets US forces in UAE, Jordan as Trump says attacks were 'a very good thing'

The Jerusalem Post's must-listen news roundup with Gadi Zaig - the top stories, clear and concise.

US President Donald Trump speaks as he hosts a back-to-school-themed event to highlight his administration's education policies, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, August 24, 2026; illustrative.

Smotrich backs Givati soldiers jailed after refusing APC with female paramedic

“I support the Givati soldiers who insisted on their right and duty to serve in the IDF while preserving their values and faith and while adhering to the Joint Service Order,” Smotrich said.

Finance Minister and head of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich attends RZP's primaries event ahead of the upcoming elections, in Jerusalem, July 26, 2026.

Winter privately met with Netanyahu despite pledging independent run, N12 reports

According to the report, Netanyahu offered Winter a reserved slot on the Likud list for the upcoming election, alongside additional reserved positions on the party’s slate, which Winter rejected.

Ofer Winter speaks during his party announcement event on August 25, 2026.

Winter, Smotrich cross electoral threshold at expense of Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, Kan poll shows

The Kan poll shows Likud down one seat to 21 mandates from the previous survey and down three seats since the beginning of the month. Otzma Yehudit also declined, falling to seven seats.

 A plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on March 19, 2025.

Ben-Gvir blasts Netanyahu over reported Smotrich-Feiglin merger talks, unity appeal

Smotrich largely stayed away from the back-and-forth, writing in a post on Twitter/X that “the time for unity and responsibility is now.”

Ben-Gvir pushes for Netanyahu to intensify fighting in Lebanon, Knesset, Jerusalem, May 25, 2026.