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National Union–Tkuma (registered party of Religious Zionism)

Religious Zionism led by Bezalel Smotrich and Zehut led by Moshe Feiglin
Leader
Bezalel Smotrich
List
Religious Zionism led by Bezalel Smotrich and Zehut led by Moshe Feiglin
Researched as of
October 7, 2026

Running on a joint list with Atid Echad – A Good Future for Israel and Zehut – Israeli Jewish Movement as Religious Zionism led by Bezalel Smotrich and Zehut led by Moshe Feiglin.

Overview

National Union–Tkuma (האיחוד הלאומי – תקומה) is the registered party behind the political brand Religious Zionism (הציונות הדתית), led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) describes Religious Zionism as the renamed National Union–Tkuma party, and also as the name of the alliance of parties that ran in the 2021 and 2022 elections [1]. In the CEC filing for the 2026 election, the party appears under its registered name, "National Union–Tkuma" [2].

Origins and history. A Knesset faction called Tkuma first sat in the 14th Knesset in March 1999, and factions bearing the National Union name have sat in most Knessets since then, often as part of larger joint factions [3]. In the 2013 and 2015 elections the party, then called Tkuma, ran on a joint list with the Jewish Home party and was part of the coalitions that backed Benjamin Netanyahu's third and fourth governments (2013–2020) [1]. Smotrich was elected party chair by the party's central committee on 14 January 2019, defeating the previous leader, Minister Uri Ariel, by 83 votes to 40 [4]. The party was in opposition to the Netanyahu–Gantz "rotation" government (2020–2021) and to the Bennett–Lapid government (2021–2022), and returned to government as a senior partner after the November 2022 election [1].

Ideology. The IDI places the party on what it calls the deep right of the political map ("הימין העמוק"): a religious-Zionist party that seeks to deepen Jewish education in schools and strengthen the Jewish identity and character of the state; it supports the "wholeness of the Land of Israel", the expansion of settlement in Judea and Samaria, and a firm security policy [1]. On economics the IDI describes it as favouring liberalisation of the economy and private enterprise; on constitutional questions, as seeking to narrow the powers of the Supreme Court (including through an override clause and by moving the choice of judges to the Knesset) and to split the role of the attorney general [1]. Smotrich told The Jerusalem Post at the party's July 2026 list launch that the party "strengthens the identity of the Jewish people" and would work on security and "fixes to the judicial system" [5].

Base of support. The party addresses itself mainly to the religious-Zionist (national-religious) public; Smotrich has said he wants it to run as "a big, strong, significant party" of that public [6]. Its 2026 slate was chosen on 26 July 2026 by about 130 members of the party's central committee [7, 95]. In a Ynetnews analysis, political correspondent Yuval Karni described the result as a "settler-dominated slate" drawn from the Hardal camp (the more strictly observant part of the national-religious public), and reported that Minister Ofir Sofer and MK Moshe Solomon had withdrawn from the internal race [7].

Current seats. The 2022 joint list "Religious Zionism" (with Otzma Yehudit and Noam) won 14 seats, 7 of which belonged to Smotrich's party [1, 5]. Since 20 November 2022 the party has sat in the 25th Knesset as the separate faction "Religious Zionism led by Bezalel Smotrich", with 7 seats [8, 9]. Its sitting MKs in 2026 are Orit Strock, Simcha Rothman, Ofir Sofer, Michal Woldiger, Ohad Tal, Moshe Solomon and Zvi Sukkot; Smotrich left the Knesset (but stayed a minister) on 7 February 2023, and Sukkot entered in his place [9, 10].

The 2026 list (joint list). The party runs on the joint list "Religious Zionism led by Bezalel Smotrich and Zehut led by Moshe Feiglin", ballot letter ט [2]. The CEC filing shows the list was submitted by three registered parties: National Union–Tkuma, Zehut – Israeli Jewish Movement (Moshe Feiglin's party) and Atid Echad – A Good Future for Israel [2]. Smotrich and Feiglin announced on 1 September 2026 that they would run together as a "technical bloc", with Feiglin in second place; Smotrich called it "the first connection and not the last" and invited other right-wing parties to join [11]. Ynetnews reported that the two sides agreed the alliance would be strictly "technical": each party runs its own campaign, and after the election they are expected to split and conduct any coalition negotiations separately. Under the agreement Feiglin received places 2, 8, 10 and 11 [98]. The party's central committee approved the agreement on 6 September 2026 [99]. Atid Echad is a registered party with little public profile; Knesset records show that MK Ofir Sofer sat briefly in a one-member "Atid Echad" faction on 27 June 2021 before joining the Religious Zionism faction the same day [12]. On the 2026 CEC list, Orit Strock (No. 3) is listed as filed on behalf of Atid Echad [2].

Split history. The parties in this alliance have a record of splitting after elections, which the law allows: a joint faction made up of several parties may split into its component parties at any time [13].

  • 2022: Religious Zionism ran as one list with Otzma Yehudit and Noam. Before the election the leaders said it was a technical bloc that might split, and on 20 November 2022 the Knesset's Arrangements Committee approved the split of Noam and the two parties representing Otzma Yehudit from the Religious Zionism faction [13, 8].
  • 2019: Knesset records show that the joint "Yamina" faction (Jewish Home – National Union – New Right) sat from 3 October 2019 and split on 10 October 2019 back into "Jewish Home – National Union", and that a separate "National Union" faction split off on 20 January 2021 [3, 10].
  • Zehut: No previous joint run or split between National Union–Tkuma and Zehut was found; the 2026 alliance is new [11]. The partners have said in advance that they expect to split after the election [98].

Polling

Polling average: 4.7% (as of October 2, 2026). Source: Mean of 5 polls published 2026-09-28 to 2026-10-02

Polls included in the average
  • Lazar Research (led by Dr. Menachem Lazar) · Maariv · 2026-09-30–10-01 · 602 respondents · margin of error ±4.0% · published Oct 2, 2026
  • Next Data · Channel 14 (Arutz Achshav 14) · 2026-10-01 · 2145 respondents · margin of error ±2.1% · published Oct 1, 2026
  • Direct Polls (led by Tzuriel Sharon) · i24NEWS (Middle East News 24 Ltd.) · 2026-10-01 · 504 respondents · margin of error ±4.3% · published Oct 1, 2026
  • Maagar Mochot (led by Prof. Yitzhak Katz) · Channel 16 · 2026-09-29 · 550 respondents · margin of error ±4.2% · published Sep 29, 2026
  • Next Data · Channel 14 (Arutz Achshav 14) · 2026-09-28 · 573 respondents · margin of error ±4.1% · published Sep 28, 2026

Leadership and key candidates

Bezalel Smotrich (No. 1, party chair). Smotrich has led the party since January 2019 [4]. He was first elected to the Knesset in 2015 on the Jewish Home list, served as transport minister from June 2019 to May 2020, and has served since 29 December 2022 as finance minister and as an additional minister in the Defense Ministry [10]. The December 2022 coalition agreement with Likud gave the party a minister in the Defense Ministry responsible for settlements in Judea and Samaria, working in coordination and agreement with the prime minister [14]. A draft of the agreement, as reported at the time, gave that minister powers previously held by the defense minister, including appointing the head of the Civil Administration and deciding on construction permits for settlements [15]. He heads the Settlements Administration, a Defense Ministry body set up in 2023 [6].

Moshe Feiglin (No. 2, Zehut). Feiglin leads the partner party Zehut [11]. He was a Likud MK from February 2013 to March 2015 [16].

Orit Strock (No. 3). Strock has been minister of settlements and national missions since 29 December 2022 [12]. She was an MK in 2013–2015 (Jewish Home faction) and again from 2021 [16]. She took first place in the party's 26 July 2026 internal vote for the places behind Smotrich, ahead of Rothman and Sukkot [95].

Simcha Rothman (No. 4). Rothman has chaired the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee since 4 January 2023 [12]. The Jerusalem Post describes him as central to advancing the government's changes to the judicial system, including the bill to split the attorney general's role [5]. He presented the party's 2026 judicial plan together with Smotrich [17].

Tzvi (Tzvika) Mor (No. 5). Mor, 49, joined the party on 26 May 2026. He is the father of Eitan Mor, who was kidnapped from the Supernova festival on 7 October 2023 and released in October 2025, and chairs the Tikva Forum, a group of hostages' relatives that opposed partial hostage-ceasefire deals; he lives in Kiryat Arba and holds a doctorate in education [18].

Further down the list [2, 19]:

  • No. 6 Itamar Itam, a reserve battalion commander and educator who was seriously wounded in Gaza and has served close to 700 reserve days since 7 October 2023.
  • No. 7 Zvi Sukkot, MK since February 2023, who chaired the Knesset subcommittee on Judea and Samaria affairs from November 2023 to January 2025 [10].
  • No. 8 Yitzhak Zaga (Zehut).
  • No. 9 Re'ut Ben Haim, a founder of the "Tzav 9" movement, which campaigned during the war against aid entering Gaza.
  • No. 12 Ohad Tal, MK since 2022, who came fourth in the party's internal vote [95] but was moved down to make room for the joint list and new reserved places; he said he backed the move.
  • No. 24 Yossi Bachar, a reserve general and resident of Be'eri who fought on 7 October 2023.
  • Former deputy finance minister Michal Woldiger (deputy minister January–October 2023) is No. 30 [2, 12].

Positions on the issues

Cost of living

Action: As finance minister, Smotrich signed an order raising the exemption from VAT and import taxes on personal imports from abroad from $75 to $150, starting on 24 December 2025. The order's explanatory notes describe it as part of the government's effort to lower the cost of living, at an estimated cost of about NIS 1 billion a year in lost revenue [20]. He described the move as one of a series of steps, including the dairy reform and opening the bank-deposit market to competition, and said the Israeli economy "is controlled by a small number of strong monopolies" [20].

Action: Smotrich's ministry promoted a structural reform of the dairy sector modelled on the EU's 2015 change: buying out production quotas from farmers, opening the market to competition and expanding import quotas for hard cheeses by about 70%. On 2 February 2026 the dairy farmers' organisation announced a halt to milk deliveries to dairies in protest, and Smotrich responded that "the citizens of Israel will not be hostages of monopolies and pressure groups" [21]. On 10 March 2026, after the start of the war with Iran, Netanyahu and Smotrich announced in a joint statement that the dairy reform and other cost-of-living reforms were being taken off the agenda [22]. Smotrich later said the reform did not get enough support in the coalition [6].

Action: At the start of 2025, VAT rose from 17% to 18%, alongside increases in electricity, water and municipal-tax charges, which Globes attributed mainly to Finance Ministry measures [23].

Action: On 6 September 2026 Smotrich signed an order cutting the price of gasoline by 50 agorot per litre by temporarily lowering the excise tax, in effect until 31 October 2026; the attorney general approved the move [24].

Statement: "The cost of living is an enormous challenge; the only way to solve it is competition, competition, competition," Smotrich said in August 2026 [6]. In October 2025 he said he planned tax cuts, without giving details [25].

Closest option(s): More competition and imports, breaking up dominant companies (open-market-competition-imports). The record also includes temporary tax relief, but the party's own stated approach and its main reforms point to competition.

Crime in Arab society

Action: In August 2023 Smotrich froze a budget for Arab local authorities that came from coalition funds negotiated by Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas. He said he would not release it without oversight mechanisms, arguing that "a large part of the local authorities in the Arab sector have fallen captive, against their will, to crime organizations" and that budgets were reaching crime and terror organizations [26].

Action: On 15 July 2026 the government approved a plan, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, Equality Minister May Golan and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, to allocate about NIS 497 million to bring the Shin Bet (Israel's internal security service) into the fight against crime in Arab society, with about NIS 364.5 million for the Shin Bet and about NIS 132.4 million for the police. The money was taken from Government Decision 550, the 2021 plan to reduce economic and social gaps between Arab society and the rest of the population [27]. The decision was made by the government in which the party serves; no separate statement by the party on that decision was found.

Statement: In his 27 August 2026 campaign plan for the Negev and Galilee, Smotrich called for involving the Shin Bet in combating illegal weapons in the Negev and northern Israel, and proposed that "possession of illegal weapons" be defined as terrorism by a temporary order, with prison terms of 10 years and about NIS 1.2 billion for a new prison facility [28].

Closest option(s): Extraordinary measures, including the Shin Bet and terrorism-style powers (emergency-powers-shin-bet). The party's evidence focuses on enforcement and on controlling the flow of budgets to Arab authorities; no support for the investment-first approach was found.

Gaza Strip policy

Action: In November 2023 the party's ministers first said they would oppose the hostage deal, then voted for it after being shown a security document saying the fighting would resume afterwards. Smotrich said the war would continue "until Hamas is destroyed" [29].

Action: In January 2025 the government approved the first-stage hostage and ceasefire deal by 24 votes to 8; Ynet reported that Smotrich and his party's ministers were among those who voted against [103].

Action: On 9 October 2025 Smotrich and Strock voted against the government decision approving the US-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal; the party's third minister, Ofir Sofer, voted in favour [30]. Smotrich later said that his opposition to a January 2025 deal outline had been necessary for bringing the hostages home [31].

Action: When the security cabinet approved the entry of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) into Gaza on 26 July 2026, Ben-Gvir was the only minister to vote against. Strock expressed reservations in the meeting, saying "the only good thing here is the international consensus" but that the other side had not kept its commitments [94]. On 3 August 2026 Smotrich and Strock wrote to Netanyahu demanding that the security cabinet revoke the decision and that the force not enter Gaza until its "purpose, legal authority, and missions" were amended. Smotrich argued that the Board of Peace's 15-point roadmap does not guarantee full demilitarisation, requires the IDF to withdraw before Hamas disarms, changes the force's mandate in a way that restricts IDF operations, and restores the idea of a Palestinian state as a political objective [32].

Statement: On 19 January 2026 Smotrich called for "full Israeli control, the destruction of Hamas and permanent Israeli settlement" in Gaza. He proposed giving Hamas "a short ultimatum for disarmament and true exile", then to "storm Gaza with all our might" and "allow Gaza residents to leave and seek their future elsewhere", and he called the Trump plan "bad for the State of Israel" [33]. On 27 September 2026 he said he would like Israel to apply its sovereignty to (in The Times of Israel's word, annex) Gaza "at least up to the Yellow Line" [34]. Ynetnews describes the party's 2026 slate as led by politicians who campaigned for taking Gaza, renewed Jewish settlement there and the "voluntary migration" of Gaza's residents [7].

Change over time: Smotrich and Strock did not vote against the security cabinet's 26 July 2026 decision to let the international force into Gaza; only Ben-Gvir did [94, 32]. A week later they demanded that the decision be revoked [32]. Smotrich's explanation is that "the [15-point Roadmap] plan published by the Board of Peace is not the plan that was presented to us in the Security Cabinet, nor is it the one we voted on" [32].

Closest option(s): Return to war, full control of Gaza, encouraging voluntary emigration and rebuilding Israeli communities (resume-fighting-full-control).

Haredi military enlistment

Action: Six of the party's seven MKs voted for the Basic Law: Torah Study, which declares Torah study "a fundamental value", in its preliminary reading on 10 June 2026 and its first reading on 1 July 2026; MK Moshe Solomon voted against both times [35, 36, 37]. Smotrich removed Solomon from all the Knesset committees on which he served for the faction, saying Solomon had "surprised all faction members and severely damaged their trust in him" [38]. In the final reading on 13 July 2026, which passed 63–52, all seven of the party's MKs, Solomon included, voted in favour [39, 40]. Critics, including the IDI, warned the law could be used to justify exemptions and continued funding for yeshiva students who do not serve [40].

Action: On 14 July 2026 the Knesset passed, 58–54, a temporary amendment to the Security Service Law that freezes arrest, investigation and enforcement against yeshiva students who do not report for service. The Knesset's official summary of the law says it stays in force until 30 November 2026; The Times of Israel reported the protection as lasting until late January 2027 [41, 97]. MKs Tal, Sukkot, Strock and Rothman voted for it and Solomon voted against [42, 41]. The Times of Israel reported that Religious Zionism had insisted that other bills backed by its MKs, including the attorney-general bill, be given priority on the agenda [41]. The High Court of Justice froze the law the next day and struck it down on 3 September 2026 [104].

Action: The party's MKs voted against several opposition bills to tie benefits to enlistment, including a bill conditioning reduced National Insurance payments on compliance with the Security Service Law and a bill conditioning economic assistance for Torah learners on it (both 22 October 2025) [44, 45]. They also voted against a bill on financial sanctions (4 February 2026) and a "Ben-Gurion model" bill on deferrals (3 December 2025) [46, 47]. In June 2024 they voted with the coalition to revive the previous Knesset's enlistment bill for yeshiva students [48].

Statement: On 29 January 2025 Smotrich said there would be "no discounts" in the enlistment law, and that if no agreement were reached, the Knesset could pass the budget and be dissolved [49]. In August 2026 he defended the vote on the arrest law, saying that arrests do not bring Haredim to the army but "just make Jews fight one another", and that Haredi enlistment "must be with a process and consensus" [43]. He told the Jerusalem Post he would seek a "framework to draft haredim" in the next government, with the consent and legitimacy of the Haredi leadership, ending in Haredi enlistment and integration [6].

Contradiction: Smotrich said in January 2025 there would be "no discounts" in the enlistment law [49], and in August 2026 that Haredim should be enlisted [6]. In July 2026 all seven of the party's MKs voted for the Basic Law: Torah Study, and four of them (with Solomon voting against and Sofer and Woldiger not voting) voted for the law barring arrests of Haredi men who do not report for service [39, 42, 41]. Smotrich's explanation is that arrests "don't bring [Haredim] to the army… they just make Jews fight one another in the streets", and that enlistment "must be with a process and consensus" [43].

Closest option(s): Stated position: gradual enlistment by agreement with Haredi leaders (gradual-targets-by-agreement). The party's 2025–2026 votes, however, protected yeshiva students from enforcement, which is closer in practice to anchor-torah-study-exemption. The evidence is mixed.

Housing

Action: In May 2025 the Finance Ministry proposed to the Israel Land Council that the "Dira BeHanacha" (discounted apartment) programme be narrowed. New lotteries would be limited mainly to towns with lower average prices per square metre and to low socio-economic towns, with 50% of the units in the periphery reserved for reserve soldiers. Smotrich's office said the old programme had "discriminated against residents of the periphery", while local-authority heads called the change unfair to young people who cannot afford high-demand areas [50].

Action: In October 2025 Smotrich said a real-estate plan approved by the government "will support increasing the housing supply by tens of thousands of units" [25].

Statement: In October 2025 Smotrich advised buyers: "Don't be suckers. Bargain with the contractors… don't rush to buy. There will be no lack of supply in the coming years" [25].

Statement: On 27 August 2026 Smotrich presented a campaign plan titled "Yes. Judaize!" for the Negev and Galilee: 1 million additional Jewish residents, 40 new communities and dozens of agricultural farms, hundreds of thousands of housing units, and government control over the Planning Administration and the Israel Land Authority to "steamroll procedures" [28]. He also said: "We will cancel all these plans that create continuous Arab settlement in the Galilee" [28]. The plan as described targets new Jewish communities, not housing for all citizens.

Closest option(s): Building more and faster by releasing land and cutting procedures (speed-up-planning-and-construction), combined with developing the periphery (develop-periphery-and-transport), which the party frames as Jewish settlement in the Negev and Galilee.

Iran, Hezbollah and the region

Statement: After the United States and Iran reached a framework agreement in June 2026, Smotrich called it "bad for Israel and for the entire free world. Period." He also said that "Israel is not subordinate to the United States" and "We are not partners to this agreement, which does not safeguard our security", and that "we must not withdraw from any territory [in Lebanon] that our fighters have captured" [51]. US Vice President JD Vance publicly questioned Smotrich's and Ben-Gvir's criticism, asking "What is your exact proposal?" [52].

Statement: On 23 June 2026 Smotrich said: "There will be no Israeli withdrawal from the security zone in Lebanon… as long as Hezbollah exists in Lebanon." He said Hezbollah must be dismantled, not only disarmed, and that "We have made it clear to the Americans" [53]. On 27 September 2026 he said he would like Israel to apply its sovereignty to (annex) southern Lebanon "up to the Litani", arguing that "if a war ends on the borders it began, what will prevent the enemy from going to war again?" [34].

No Knesset or government vote specific to the Iran agreement was found. The party's positions here rest on its leader's statements.

Closest option(s): Keep attacking until the threats are removed, stay in southern Lebanon, no deals in the meantime (military-pressure-until-threats-removed).

Judea and Samaria

Action: The government in which Smotrich holds civilian authority over Judea and Samaria approved 34 new settlements in a single security-cabinet decision in March 2026, bringing the total approved during its term to 103 [54]. In June 2026 the security cabinet allocated NIS 1.3 billion for "pioneer neighbourhoods" at the new sites, and Smotrich called it "a day of celebration for Israel and settlements" [55]. In August 2025 the Civil Administration's Higher Planning Committee approved plans for 3,412 housing units in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim. Smotrich said at the time that without this area "the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital is simply impossible"; marketing of the first 1,400 units was announced in August 2026 [56].

Action: On 21 March 2023 the party's MKs present voted for the law repealing the ban on Israelis entering and living in the area of northern Samaria evacuated in 2005 [57]. On 22 October 2025 all seven voted for MK Avi Maoz's bill applying Israeli sovereignty to Judea and Samaria, which passed its preliminary reading 25–24 [58].

Action: Israel is withholding about $5 billion in tax revenue that it collects for the Palestinian Authority. In May 2026 Smotrich, as finance minister, rejected a US request to transfer part of it to the Board of Peace [59].

Statement: In February 2026 Smotrich named as a goal for the next term "eliminating the idea of an Arab terror state, abolishing the cursed Oslo Accords, and moving toward a path of sovereignty – while encouraging emigration from Gaza as well as Judea and Samaria" [60]. On 27 September 2026 he said Israel must "go to war in Judea and Samaria, to do there what we did in Gaza, to dismantle the Palestinian Authority" [34]. The Jerusalem Post reports that he has called to abolish the Oslo Accords and replace the Palestinian Authority with a military-run administration before applying Israeli sovereignty [5].

Contradiction: The coalition agreement between Likud and the Religious Zionist Party, the list this party led, signed on 28 December 2022, says in clause 118 that "the Prime Minister will lead the formulation and advancement of a policy under which sovereignty will be applied in Judea and Samaria, while choosing the timing and weighing all the national and international interests of the State of Israel" [105]. The party says its aim is to apply sovereignty [60]. Its MKs nonetheless voted against Yisrael Beytenu bills to apply sovereignty to the Jordan Valley on 15 March 2023 (rejected 66–14) and 22 January 2025 (rejected 56–32) [61, 62, 63]. MKs Woldiger and Rothman also voted against a Yisrael Beytenu bill for Beitar Illit on 31 December 2025 (rejected 45–8) [64]. All were opposition bills, and the party voted with the coalition. Before the 2023 vote, the ministerial committee for legislation had decided that the coalition would not support the bill and deferred its decision by six months. Replying for the government, Strock called it a "trolling bill", said "the whole coalition supports sovereignty" and "we will advance it at the appropriate time" [93]. On a similar Yisrael Beytenu bill for Ma'ale Adumim on 22 October 2025, which passed its preliminary reading 31–9, MK Solomon voted in favour and the party's other MKs did not vote [65].

Closest option(s): Apply Israeli sovereignty to all of Judea and Samaria, expand settlements and dismantle the Palestinian Authority (full-sovereignty).

Judicial system

Action: The party's MKs voted for the law limiting the courts' use of the "reasonableness" standard (final reading 24 July 2023) [66]. The Supreme Court struck down that law on 1 January 2024 by 8–7 [67]. They also voted for the law changing the Judicial Selection Committee (final reading 27 March 2025) [68], and for the Attorney General (Opinions, Representation and Supervision) Law (final reading 15 July 2026, passed 65–51), which MKs Woldiger and Tal co-sponsored [69, 70]. Rothman, as chair of the Constitution Committee, led much of this legislation [5, 12].

Formal commitment: On 15 September 2026 Smotrich and Rothman published the party's plan for the next term, and the party said its implementation would be a condition for joining the next coalition [71]:

  • split the attorney general's role into a government-appointed legal adviser and a separate prosecutor general;
  • hold public hearings for judicial candidates;
  • have all judges elect the Supreme Court president by secret ballot;
  • assign judicial panels randomly;
  • regulate judicial review of laws and add an override clause;
  • restore limits on who may petition the court;
  • abolish appointment committees and give ministers more power over senior appointments;
  • abolish the offence of breach of trust and end state appeals against acquittals;
  • postpone some criminal proceedings against a sitting prime minister and ministers.

Smotrich said: "The government will be able to govern, the Knesset will be able to legislate, and the judicial system will operate solely within the bounds of its authority" [71].

Statement: In December 2025 Smotrich said of Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit: "The result will be that we will trample him," and the Judicial Authority called the remarks a threat against judges [72]. A party campaign video depicting Supreme Court judges and the government's legal adviser being forcibly dragged away drew petitions to disqualify it. CEC chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg rejected them on 1 October 2026, ruling that a senior public servant's image may be used to express political criticism [17].

Closest option(s): Give elected officials more power over the courts and end the binding force of the attorney general's opinions (continue-judicial-changes).

October 7 inquiry

Action: The party's MKs voted against opposition bills to establish a state commission of inquiry into October 7, on 17 July 2024 and 12 November 2025 [73, 74]. On 24 December 2025 all seven voted for MK Ariel Kallner's bill for a "state-national" commission of inquiry, which passed its preliminary reading 53–48 [75].

Statement: In October 2026 the party told Ynetnews that it would "under no circumstances support a 'state' commission of inquiry, which is a sanitized term for a one-sided and biased commission." It supports "a national, independent, genuine and fair commission of inquiry that will enjoy the public's confidence." It objects to members being appointed by Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, who, it says, "does not enjoy the confidence of most of the public and was not democratically elected" [76].

Closest option(s): A commission picked through the Knesset (commission-appointed-by-knesset-balance).

Religion and state

Action: The party's MKs voted for the Religious Courts Jurisdiction (Arbitration) Law, a private bill by MKs Moshe Gafni, Yinon Azoulay and Yaakov Asher on the jurisdiction of religious courts to act as arbitrators, which passed its final reading 65–41 on 24 March 2026 [77, 78]. They also voted for a bill banning the display of leavened food (chametz) in hospitals during Passover (preliminary reading, 22 February 2023) [79]. They voted against:

  • a bill to let city rabbis perform conversions (17 May 2023) [80];
  • a bill to run public transport on Shabbat (19 November 2025) [81];
  • a bill banning conversion therapy for minors (14 January 2026) [82];
  • a bill defining discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity or religious belief (31 December 2025) [83].

Formal commitment: In February 2026 the party announced it would vote for MK Avi Maoz's bill giving the Chief Rabbinate full control over prayer at all parts of the Western Wall, saying it would "ensure the integrity of the Western Wall and preserve its sanctity" [84].

Statement: When the 2022 coalition agreement was signed, Smotrich said the new government would "strengthen Jewish identity in the spirit of religious Zionism" [14]. Under that agreement Strock's ministry took over departments from the Education and Religious Services ministries [14].

Closest option(s): A bigger role for Jewish religious law and the Rabbinate (strengthen-jewish-character). The party has consistently opposed loosening the current arrangements, and its votes widen the role of religious institutions.

Other notable positions

Settlement and Jewish population in the Negev and Galilee

Statement: The party's "Yes. Judaize!" plan (27 August 2026) calls for 1 million additional Jewish residents in the Negev and Galilee, 40 new communities and dozens of farms. It also calls for removing "anti-Zionist and post-Zionist elements" from planning bodies, through legislation rather than relying on "officials and legal advisers" [28]. This applies to Jewish communities specifically; the plan would cancel plans that create "continuous Arab settlement in the Galilee" [28].

Death penalty for terrorists

Action: All seven of the party's MKs voted for the Death Penalty for Terrorists Law, which passed its final reading 62–48 on 30 March 2026 [85].

Religious soldiers and mixed-gender service in the IDF

Statement: On 31 August 2026 Smotrich backed Givati Brigade hesder-yeshiva soldiers who were jailed for refusing to board an armoured personnel carrier with a female paramedic. He said they had acted in line with the IDF's Joint Service Order and that he would "demand answers from the IDF" [86].

Immigration (aliyah)

Statement: In October 2025 Smotrich announced he intended to encourage immigration with "dramatic tax benefits", including a tax exemption for new immigrants on income earned in Israel [25]. He has also said he is working on plans to encourage more Diaspora Jews to immigrate [5].

The Palestinian Authority and the Oslo Accords

Action and statement: Smotrich has withheld Palestinian Authority clearance revenues (about $5 billion), and his office said releasing them to the Board of Peace "could allow Ramallah to gain a foothold in Gaza" [59]. He has called for abolishing the Oslo Accords and dismantling the Palestinian Authority [60, 34].

Economic policy and public finances

Action: VAT rose in January 2025 under measures by Smotrich's Finance Ministry [23]. In March 2026 he and Netanyahu announced about NIS 31 billion in additional defence spending, while the government was preparing to approve about NIS 5 billion in coalition funds in the 2026 budget [22]. The Jerusalem Post notes criticism that his budgets gave significant funding to Haredi institutions [5]. In October 2025 Smotrich said the defence budget "will have to return to normal numbers" after the war [25].

Agriculture

Action: The dairy reform, which would have bought out farmers' production quotas (about NIS 1 billion in compensation) and opened the market to competition, drew protests from dairy farmers and the moshav movement. They argued it would close dairy farms and harm food security [21]. It was taken off the agenda in March 2026 [22].

Coalition stance

Netanyahu and the right-wing bloc. Smotrich has said the party will support Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister and seek to continue the "national camp" partnership, including with the Haredi parties [5, 6]. On 6 October 2026 Likud signed a surplus-vote agreement with the Religious Zionism–Zehut list [87].

Opposition leaders. In August 2026 Smotrich said that Gadi Eisenkot would "set up a left-wing government that will evacuate settlements, and push for a Palestinian state". He said Bennett, Lapid and Eisenkot were discussing how to undo the current government's measures [6].

Ra'am. On 25 March 2021 Smotrich wrote: "A right-wing government will not be established that is based on Mansour Abbas' Ra'am Party. Period. Not from within, not from outside, not through abstaining" [88]. On 5 May 2026 he said a government with Abbas was more serious than the October 7 massacre, which he called a "tactical failure". He later said his remarks were taken out of context and that the massacre was "one of the worst we have known since the Holocaust" [89]. He has ruled out relying on Arab parties to form a government [5].

Otzma Yehudit. In an interview with The Jerusalem Post on 12 August 2026, Smotrich said the party would not run with Itamar Ben-Gvir and could "run on its own as a big, strong, significant party" [6]. On 1 September 2026 it announced the joint run with Zehut and invited other right-wing parties to join [11].

Track record on such pledges.

  • Ra'am (2021). The pledge was kept. Smotrich said in December 2025 that he prevented Netanyahu from forming a government relying on Ra'am in 2021 [90]. Ra'am later joined the Bennett–Lapid government, and the party stayed in opposition [90, 1].
  • Staying in government. Smotrich stayed in the government throughout the 2022–2026 term, despite voting against the October 2025 deal. He has contrasted this with Ben-Gvir's resignation and return [6, 30].
  • Contradiction: On 1 May 2024 Orit Strock, asked whether the party would leave the government if a hostage deal then under discussion were signed, answered that a government that did so "has absolutely no right to exist" [102]. The government approved hostage and ceasefire deals in January 2025 and October 2025 over the votes of the party's ministers (Sofer voted for the second), and the party stayed in the government [103, 30]. Smotrich's account of staying is: "I, on the one hand, stayed as a responsible [partner]. On the other hand, I also knew how to draw red lines" [6].
  • 2022 joint list. The 2022 alliance with Otzma Yehudit and Noam split into three factions within a week of the Knesset's swearing-in, as the leaders had said it might [13, 8].

Track record

The party has been in government since December 2022, with Smotrich as finance minister and minister in the Defense Ministry, Strock as minister of settlements and national missions, and Sofer as minister of aliyah and integration [10, 12, 1]. When the coalition agreement was signed on 1 December 2022, Smotrich said the government would "restore security and governance, promote historic reform in the legal system, regulate and develop the settlement enterprise, [and] strengthen Jewish identity in the spirit of religious Zionism" [14]. Item by item:

  • Settlement – delivered. The government approved 103 new settlements during its term, including 34 in one decision in 2026 [54], with NIS 1.3 billion allocated in June 2026 [55]. E1 plans were approved and the first units are being marketed [56]. The 2023 law reopened the evacuated northern Samaria area [57].
  • Sovereignty – not delivered. Sovereignty was not applied. A sovereignty bill passed only a preliminary reading in October 2025 [58], and Smotrich has named sovereignty as a goal for the next term [60].
  • Judicial changes – partly delivered. The reasonableness law passed in July 2023 but was struck down in January 2024 [66, 67]. The Judicial Selection Committee law passed in March 2025 [68]. The attorney-general law passed in July 2026 [69]. The party's September 2026 plan lists further changes for the next term [71].
  • Gaza – not delivered as pledged. The party pledged that the war would continue until Hamas was destroyed [29]. The government approved the October 2025 ceasefire over Smotrich's and Strock's opposition [30]. Smotrich said in August 2026 that during the war "there were many things that I thought at some point I should have done differently" and "I only have seven seats" [6].
  • Haredi enlistment – not delivered. In January 2025 Smotrich pledged "no discounts" [49]. No enlistment law passed; it was taken off the agenda in March 2026 [22]. In July 2026 the party voted for the Basic Law: Torah Study and the law barring arrests [39, 42].
  • Cost of living – mixed. The personal-import tax exemption was implemented [20] and a temporary fuel-tax cut was made [24]. The dairy reform was shelved [22], and VAT rose in 2025 [23].

Legal or ethical matters involving leaders

Bezalel Smotrich – 2005 detention. In summer 2005, during protests against the disengagement from Gaza, Smotrich was one of five people arrested on suspicion of offences including conspiracy to commit a crime, disrupting public transport routes and endangering human life, over an alleged plan to block roads and damage infrastructure. He was held in a Shin Bet facility. A District Court rejected the suspects' appeal against their detention, and Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran upheld that decision. He was released after several weeks, and no charges were brought [91]. Status: closed without charges.

Bezalel Smotrich – sanctions by foreign governments. On 10 June 2025 the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway imposed personal sanctions (asset freezes, travel bans and business restrictions) on Smotrich and Ben-Gvir. The governments' joint statement said the two had incited violence against Palestinians in Judea and Samaria and that the sanctions were imposed on them "in their personal capacity" [92]. These are official acts of foreign governments, not Israeli legal proceedings. Status: the UK's official sanctions list still listed Smotrich on 7 October 2026 (asset freeze, travel ban and director disqualification) [96]. The current status of the other four countries' measures was not checked. There is no Israeli proceeding.

Request to disqualify the list (rejected). On 15 September 2026 the Zulat Institute, together with former defence minister Moshe Ya'alon and other former ministers and public figures, asked the CEC to disqualify Bezalel Smotrich, Moshe Feiglin and Zvi Sukkot and the Religious Zionism list under section 7A of Basic Law: The Knesset, citing statements they said amounted to incitement to racism and rejection of Israel's democratic character [100]. The CEC rejected the request to disqualify the Religious Zionism–Zehut list, and the list was approved on 27 September 2026 [101]. Status: rejected. The reporting checked does not describe a separate ruling on the three individual candidates or any appeal.

No indictments or convictions involving Orit Strock, Simcha Rothman or Tzvi Mor were found in the sources reviewed for this document. Moshe Feiglin, No. 2 on the joint list, leads the partner party Zehut. His record was not researched in depth here because this document covers National Union–Tkuma.

Sources

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  27. Israeli gov't approves plan to move over half a billion shekels from Arab sector to Shin Bet. The Jerusalem Post, 16 July 2026. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-902653
  28. Smotrich hardens election rhetoric, vows to 'Judaize' Negev and Galilee and override officials. Ynetnews, 27 August 2026. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1vud2twfl
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  30. Ceasefire takes effect after Israeli gov't votes to approve Gaza deal. The Jerusalem Post, 9 October 2025. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-869883
  31. Smotrich claims hostages returned thanks to his opposition to earlier Gaza deal. The Jerusalem Post, 28 June 2026. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900736
  32. Smotrich, Strook urge Netanyahu to prevent entry of ISF personnel into Gaza. JNS, 4 August 2026. https://jns.org/news/israel-news/smotrich-strook-urge-netanyahu-to-cancel-approval-of-us-brokered-gaza-plan
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  34. Smotrich: Israel must 'go to war' in West Bank as 'we did in Gaza,' annex most of Strip, south Lebanon. The Times of Israel (live blog), 27 September 2026. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/smotrich-calls-on-israel-to-annex-southern-lebanon-most-of-gaza/
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  37. Contentious Basic Law on Torah study, aimed at shielding draft evaders, passes 1st reading. The Times of Israel, 2 July 2026. https://www.timesofisrael.com/contentious-basic-law-on-torah-study-aimed-at-shielding-draft-evaders-passes-1st-reading/
  38. Smotrich removes MK Solomon from all committees after voting against Torah study Basic Law. Ynetnews, 10 June 2026. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/qyleql0ib
  39. Knesset open data: plenum vote 46248, results by member (Basic Law: Torah Study, final reading). Knesset of Israel, 13 July 2026. https://www.knesset.gov.il/OdataV4/ParliamentInfo/KNS_PlenumVoteResult?$filter=VoteID%20eq%2046248
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  41. Knesset passes law banning arrests of Haredi draft dodgers, legitimizing ongoing mass non-enlistment. The Times of Israel, 14 July 2026. https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-passes-law-banning-arrests-of-haredi-draft-dodgers-legitimizing-ongoing-non-enlistment/
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  44. Knesset open data: plenum vote 44569, results by member (National Insurance bill conditioning reduced insurance payments on compliance with the Security Service Law, preliminary reading). Knesset of Israel, 22 October 2025. https://www.knesset.gov.il/OdataV4/ParliamentInfo/KNS_PlenumVoteResult?$filter=VoteID%20eq%2044569
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  53. Smotrich vows no IDF withdrawal 'as long as Hezbollah exists in Lebanon'. The Times of Israel (live blog), 23 June 2026. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/smotrich-vows-no-idf-withdrawal-as-long-as-hezbollah-exists-in-lebanon/
  54. Government approves a record 34 new settlements, as it acts to deepen hold on West Bank. The Times of Israel, 9 April 2026. https://www.timesofisrael.com/government-formally-approves-34-new-settlements-as-it-acts-to-deepen-hold-on-west-bank/
  55. Government says $431 million allocated last month for 34 new West Bank settlements. The Times of Israel, 14 July 2026. https://www.timesofisrael.com/government-says-431-million-allocated-last-month-for-34-new-west-bank-settlements/
  56. First 1,400 housing units to be marketed in controversial E1 area of West Bank. The Jerusalem Post, 19 August 2026. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-905998
  57. Knesset open data: plenum vote 38430, results by member (Disengagement Plan Implementation Law (Amendment 7) (northern Samaria), final reading). Knesset of Israel, 21 March 2023. https://www.knesset.gov.il/OdataV4/ParliamentInfo/KNS_PlenumVoteResult?$filter=VoteID%20eq%2038430
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  67. High Court invalidates law for repealing the reasonableness standard. The Jerusalem Post, 1 January 2024. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-780303
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  76. State inquiry or 'national' panel? How Israel's parties want Oct. 7 investigated. Ynetnews, 4 October 2026. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1sz8wyimx
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  80. Knesset open data: plenum vote 38728, results by member (bill allowing conversion by city rabbis (MK Elazar Stern), preliminary reading). Knesset of Israel, 17 May 2023. https://www.knesset.gov.il/OdataV4/ParliamentInfo/KNS_PlenumVoteResult?$filter=VoteID%20eq%2038728
  81. Knesset open data: plenum vote 44754, results by member (bill to operate public transport on Shabbat (Labor MKs), preliminary reading). Knesset of Israel, 19 November 2025. https://www.knesset.gov.il/OdataV4/ParliamentInfo/KNS_PlenumVoteResult?$filter=VoteID%20eq%2044754
  82. Knesset open data: plenum vote 45062, results by member (bill banning conversion therapy for minors, preliminary reading). Knesset of Israel, 14 January 2026. https://www.knesset.gov.il/OdataV4/ParliamentInfo/KNS_PlenumVoteResult?$filter=VoteID%20eq%2045062
  83. Knesset open data: plenum vote 44995, results by member (Interpretation Law amendment defining discrimination on grounds of gender identity, sexual orientation or religious belief, preliminary reading). Knesset of Israel, 31 December 2025. https://www.knesset.gov.il/OdataV4/ParliamentInfo/KNS_PlenumVoteResult?$filter=VoteID%20eq%2044995
  84. Religious Zionism to support bill to grant Rabbinate full control over Western Wall. The Times of Israel (live blog), 22 February 2026. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/religious-zionism-to-support-bill-to-grant-rabbinate-full-control-over-western-wall/
  85. Knesset open data: plenum vote 45858, results by member (Death Penalty for Terrorists Law, final reading). Knesset of Israel, 30 March 2026. https://www.knesset.gov.il/OdataV4/ParliamentInfo/KNS_PlenumVoteResult?$filter=VoteID%20eq%2045858
  86. Smotrich backs Givati soldiers jailed over female paramedic. Israel National News, 31 August 2026. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/432476
  87. הליכוד חתם הסכם עודפים עם הציונות הדתית וזהות - עוצמה יהודית תוקפת. Kikar HaShabbat, 6 October 2026. https://www.kikar.co.il/political-news/likud-surplus-agreement-religious-zionism-identity
  88. Israel Elections: Smotrich rules out support from Islamist party Ra'am. The Jerusalem Post, 25 March 2021. https://www.jpost.com/israel-elections/israel-elections-smotrich-rules-out-any-support-from-islamist-party-raam-663130
  89. Smotrich: Forming a government with Mansour Abbas is worse than Oct. 7 massacre. Ynetnews, 5 May 2026. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyjpowpczg
  90. Smotrich says he blocked Netanyahu from forming government with Islamist Ra'am in 2021. The Times of Israel (live blog), 20 December 2025. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/smotrich-says-he-blocked-netanyahu-from-forming-government-with-islamist-raam-in-2021/
  91. New Bayit Yehudi hopeful was detained by Shin Bet for anti-disengagement plot. Ynetnews, 12 January 2015. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4614147,00.html
  92. Official: UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway sanction Israeli ministers. Israel Hayom, 10 June 2025. https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/06/10/official-uk-canada-australia-new-zealand-norway-sanctions-israeli-ministers/
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Information availability

There is ample public information about this party. It has sat in the Knesset throughout the 25th Knesset, and its leader has been finance minister since December 2022. Per-member Knesset voting records were available from the Knesset's open-data service, and there is extensive news coverage in Hebrew and English. The party published a detailed judicial plan in September 2026 and a Negev and Galilee plan in August 2026. However, no full written election platform (מצע) for 2026 was found online: the party's apparent domain hosted only a placeholder page, so formal commitments here come from published plans and party statements. Little public information was found about the registered partner party Atid Echad. The Knesset's open-data records for one vote, the 6 July 2026 first reading of the October 7 commission bill, were not located, so that vote is not cited.