Party Profile: Religious Zionism and Zehut (Smotrich and Feiglin)
Profile of the Religious Zionism and Zehut technical bloc led by Smotrich and Feiglin, covering its list, platform and threshold risk.
Religious Zionism, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, runs with Moshe Feiglin's Zehut on one shared slip. The bloc polls 5 to 8 seats, averaging 6.0. It is the coalition party most at risk of falling below the threshold. This profile covers its list and platform.
Who they are
Religious Zionism is the party of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, 46. This year it runs in a technical bloc with Moshe Feiglin's Zehut, approved on 6 Sept. Smotrich is first on the list and Feiglin is second.
| Leader | Bezalel Smotrich |
| Ballot letter | ט (Tet. One slip shared by Religious Zionism and Zehut) |
| Poll range | 5 to 8 seats (average 6.0) |
| Camp | Coalition |
| Space | Religious-nationalist right, settlement-focused, with a libertarian streak from Zehut |
| Coalition stance | Part of Netanyahu's bloc |
This party is the one most at risk of falling below the threshold among the coalition parties. At 6 seats it is comfortable, but it has polled lower in the past. It has a surplus-vote agreement with Likud. See the Election Math article for how that works.
The list: who is likely to get in
At 5 to 8 seats, the top five are safe in most polls. Slots 6 to 8 depend on the result.
| # | Name | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bezalel Smotrich | 46 |
| 2 | Moshe Feiglin | 64 |
| 3 | Orit Strock | 66 |
| 4 | Simcha Rothman | 46 |
| 5 | Tzvika Mor | 49 |
| 6 | Itamar Eitam | n/a |
| 7 | Zvi Sukkot | 35 |
| 8 | Yitzhak Zaga | n/a |
| 9 | Reut Ben Haim | n/a |
| 10 | Omer Patziniach | n/a |
| 11 | Arcady Mutter | n/a |
| 12 | Ohad Tal | 44 |
| 13 | Roei Kirshberg | n/a |
| 14 | Omer Rahamim | n/a |
| 15 | Sima Hasson | n/a |
Bezalel Smotrich (1). Party leader and Finance Minister. A lawyer and settler leader, and the main voice of religious-nationalist politics in the government. He has pushed for expanded settlement and for annexation in the West Bank.
Moshe Feiglin (2). Founder of Zehut and a former Likud MK, 64. A libertarian on economics and a hard-liner on the Land of Israel. He brings a different base, including secular right-wing voters and cannabis legalization supporters.
Orit Strock (3). The Settlements Minister, 66, and a long-time settler leader.
Simcha Rothman (4). A sitting MK, 46. He chaired the Knesset Constitution Committee and drove much of the judicial overhaul.
Tzvika Mor (5). 49. Public bio details are thin in the sources I could verify.
Itamar Eitam (6). A reserve lieutenant colonel who was wounded in Gaza. He gives the list a combat reservist profile.
Zvi Sukkot (7). A sitting MK, 35, and a settler activist. Known for sharp rhetoric.
Ohad Tal (12). A sitting MK, 44. Unlikely to enter without a strong result.
Others on the list. Zaga (8), Ben Haim (9), Patziniach (10), Mutter (11), Kirshberg (13), Rahamim (14) and Hasson (15) have thinner public profiles.
Note: check the final list against the Central Elections Committee publication.
Platform and coalition plans
| Issue | Position |
|---|---|
| Judiciary | "Law and Justice 2.0" platform (15 Sept): an override clause and a split in the Attorney General's role |
| Settlements | Expand. Push for sovereignty. |
| Palestinian state | Opposed |
| Economy | Free-market tilt from Zehut |
| Coalition | Part of Netanyahu's bloc |
The party's strategy is simple. Stay above the threshold, keep the surplus-vote deal with Likud, and use its seats to push a right-wing government on settlements and the judiciary. If it fails to cross 3.25%, its votes are lost, and that can cost the Netanyahu bloc a majority.
Sources: Technical bloc approval of 6 Sept; party platform of 15 Sept; Israeli media poll tracking, 24 Sept to 7 Oct.
Frequently asked questions
Who leads Religious Zionism in 2026?
Bezalel Smotrich, 46, the Finance Minister, leads the list. Moshe Feiglin of Zehut, 64, is second and Orit Strock is third. The technical bloc was approved on 6 September.
What is the Religious Zionism ballot letter?
The ballot letter is Tet (ט). Religious Zionism and Zehut share one slip, so voters see one letter for both parties. The bloc's poll range is 5 to 8 seats, averaging 6.0.
Is Religious Zionism at risk of missing the threshold?
The page calls it the coalition party most at risk of falling below the threshold. At 6 seats it is comfortable, but it has polled lower before. If it fails to cross 3.25%, its votes are lost.
Does Religious Zionism have a surplus-vote deal?
Yes. It has a surplus-vote agreement with Likud. The page says the party's strategy is to stay above the threshold, keep that deal and use its seats to push a right-wing government on settlements and the judiciary.
Cite this page: The Israel Gazette. “Party Profile: Religious Zionism and Zehut (Smotrich and Feiglin).” Updated 9 October 2026. https://israelgazette.com/election/party-profile-religious-zionism-and-zehut-smotrich-feiglin/