Story perspectives

Religious Zionist Party to run alone in 2026 election

8/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Religious Zionist Party, led by Bezalel Smotrich, will run alone in the October 27, 2026 Knesset election after the July 2026 approval of 34 new West Bank settlements.
MK Simcha Rothman advanced a bill to curb the Supreme Court’s “reasonableness” test and let the government appoint an attorney-general.
Moshe Solomon opposed the law and lost his posts, prompting Smotrich to reject coalition with Arab party Ra’am as worse than Hamas’s October 7 massacre.

1 of 1

Story summary

The Religious Zionist Party, led by Bezalel Smotrich, will run alone in the October 27, 2026 Knesset election after the July 2026 approval of 34 new West Bank settlements.
MK Simcha Rothman advanced a bill to curb the Supreme Court’s “reasonableness” test and let the government appoint an attorney-general.
Moshe Solomon opposed the law and lost his posts, prompting Smotrich to reject coalition with Arab party Ra’am as worse than Hamas’s October 7 massacre.