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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Religious Zionist Party Holds Primaries to Shape Knesset Slate Led by Bezalel Smotrich

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • The Religious Zionist Party is holding internal primaries to select its Knesset slate ahead of upcoming elections.
  • Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich leads the party and has influence over top list positions.
  • The primaries include current Knesset members and new figures, with results expected Sunday evening.

The Religious Zionist Party (RZP) is conducting its internal primaries on Sunday to determine the composition of its Knesset slate for the upcoming elections. Over 100 party committee members are casting votes to decide which candidates will represent the far-right party in parliament.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who leads the RZP, will retain the top spot on the list. He also holds the authority to select candidates for two of the party's top ten positions. The final slate is scheduled for announcement at 8 p.m. after the voting concludes at polling stations in Jerusalem and the party's headquarters in Shoham.

The RZP has also reserved a spot on its Knesset slate for Zvika Mor, the father of former hostage Eitan Mor, with Smotrich expected to place him in one of the party's top slots.

— Jerusalem PostReporting on the inclusion of Zvika Mor in the RZP's Knesset slate.

The primary race features both incumbent Knesset members, including National Missions Minister Orit Strock and MKs Michal Woldiger, Ohad Tal, Zvi Sukkot, and Simcha Rothman, alongside new contenders. Notable new figures include Tzvika Weizengrad, Deputy Mayor of Petah Tikva, and Eitan Tam, Deputy Mayor of Rosh HaAyin. Other candidates include Nathan Zauberman, leader of the Tikvah Program, Rabbi Shmuel Sasson, and Omer Rahamim, director-general of the Yesha Council representing West Bank settlements.

Notably, the RZP has reserved a spot for Zvika Mor, father of Eitan Mor, a former hostage held for two years after being kidnapped from the Supernova music festival on October 7, 2023. Eitan was released in October 2025 as part of a ceasefire deal. Zvika Mor, chairman of the Tikva Forum, advocates for a right-wing stance and opposed previous hostage-ceasefire deals. The party stated Mor's inclusion aims to strengthen the list with a "values-based national voice" and prevent past "dangerous conceptual failures."

Mor’s addition was intended to strengthen the list with a values-based national voice and to prevent “a return to dangerous conceptual failures that led to the

— Religious Zionist PartyStatement from the RZP explaining the rationale behind including Zvika Mor on their list.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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