Full Breakdown
Religious Zionist Party Eyes Solo Run Ahead of Israel’s 2026 Election
8/18/2026, 9:18:35 PM
RZP’s Independent Bid for the 26th Knesset
The Religious Zionist Party (RZP), founded in 2021 as the successor to National Union-Tkuma, will contest the 26th Knesset election on October 27 without a joint list. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that the party will run alone, rejecting a partnership with far-right leader Itamar Ben-Gvir and also ruling out reliance on Arab parties to form a government.
Platform Priorities: Settlements, Security and Social Policy
The RZP’s platform emphasizes strengthening Jewish identity, expanding West Bank settlements, and asserting Israeli sovereignty over the entire land. While serving as head of the Settlements Administration, Smotrich oversaw the approval of 34 new settlements in July 2026, bringing the total initiated during his tenure to 103. He has called for the abolition of the Oslo Accords, the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, and the eventual annexation of the West Bank.
On domestic issues, the party supports legislation favored by ultra-Orthodox (haredi) parties, including a Basic Law that enshrines Torah study as a fundamental value. In the current Knesset term, six of the party’s seven MKs voted for the bill, with MK Moshe Solomon dissenting and subsequently stripped of committee positions. Smotrich also pledged to develop a framework for haredi enlistment in the Israel Defense Forces.
Judicial Reform Agenda
The RZP continues to push for sweeping judicial changes. It backs limiting the Supreme Court’s ability to overturn government decisions and expanding elected officials’ influence over judicial appointments. Party MK Simcha Rothman, chair of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, has driven legislation to curtail the “reasonableness” standard and to separate the roles of the government’s legal adviser, the state prosecutor, and the attorney-general, proposing that the attorney-general be appointed by the government and no longer bound by binding legal opinions.
Official Statements from Party Leaders
He indicated that, should Benjamin Netanyahu form a coalition, the RZP would join the “national camp” alongside haredi parties such as Shas and United Torah Judaism.
Criticism and International Reaction
The party’s calls for West Bank annexation and the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority have drawn sharp condemnation from foreign governments and commentators, who argue the positions damage Israel’s global standing. Domestic critics also contend that the RZP’s support for haredi-backed legislation encourages draft evasion amid the IDF’s manpower shortages.
These developments set the stage for a contentious election, with the RZP poised to influence Israel’s settlement policy, judicial structure, and coalition dynamics.
