Religious Zionism Launches Election Marathon Across Israel

Finance Minister and Religious Zionism party chairman Bezalel Smotrich, accompanied by senior yeshiva deans and rabbis, embarked on a tour of Torah institutions on Monday. The initiative aims to energize activists and bolster organizational efforts ahead of the upcoming elections. The tour began at the home of the late Rabbi Chaim Druckman in Merkaz Shapira, seeking to replicate a successful campaign he led in 2021, which encouraged the national-religious public to vote.

The current "marathon" follows a large gathering of Religious Zionism activists and supporters held last Thursday in Jerusalem. The party intends to translate the energy from that event and growing public engagement into practical action in the remaining days before election day. The itinerary spans from the southern Gaza Strip to northern Samaria, including stops at yeshivas and Torah institutions in Sderot, Shalvim, Ramat Gan, Karnei Shomron, and Alon Moreh, after visiting Yeshivat Or Etzion, where Rabbi Druckman taught for decades.

At each location, participants are meeting with yeshiva students and local activists. Organizers report enthusiastic receptions with singing and dancing, emphasizing the goal of strengthening unity and the willingness to act on the ground. A key message conveyed during these meetings is the critical importance of voting and the dangers of abstention, with participants being reminded that every vote can influence the government's composition and the future of the national camp.

Sources involved in the tour expressed optimism, stating, "The students have bright eyes, the national-religious public will come out in droves to the polling stations."