Religious Zionism Leader Urges Vote, Citing Critical Juncture for Israel
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Bezalel Smotrich, Chairman of the Religious Zionism party, is urging voters to support his party in upcoming elections, stating Israel is at a critical juncture. He claims his party has advanced settlements, boosted the economy, and initiated judicial reform. Smotrich warns a left-wing victory would lead to a Palestinian state and the evacuation of settlements, emphasizing that the right-wing's success hinges on voter turnout.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Bezalel Smotrich urges voters to support Religious Zionism, claiming Israel is at a critical juncture.
- Smotrich claims his party advanced settlements, dismantled the idea of a Palestinian state, and strengthened security.
- He stated his party boosted the economy, leading to tax cuts and falling housing prices.
- Smotrich highlighted judicial reform efforts and strengthening of Jewish identity and education.
- He warned a left-wing government would establish a Palestinian state and evacuate settlements.
- Smotrich asserted the right-wing's victory depends entirely on voter turnout.
Bezalel Smotrich, Chairman of the Religious Zionism party, has issued a call to action for voters, asserting that Israel stands at a critical juncture for its future and that the outcome depends on their participation. In an appeal published on October 27, 2026, Smotrich highlighted his party's achievements, claiming they have led an unprecedented revolution in settlements in Judea and Samaria, effectively dismantled the concept of a Palestinian state, and strengthened Israel's security buffer zone.
Economically, Smotrich stated that his party has boosted the Israeli economy through reforms in banking, infrastructure, and the fight against black market capital, leading to tax reductions that he claims added approximately NIS 10,000 annually to middle-class families. He cited rising growth, falling deficits, increasing foreign investment, decreasing interest rates, and, for the first time in two decades, declining housing prices.
Smotrich also detailed investments in reservists and soldiers, support for peripheral cities, and efforts to rebuild the North and South. He mentioned initiating judicial reform to transition Israel from a "judicial dictatorship" to a democracy, alongside advancements in mental health services, immigration absorption, and strengthening Jewish identity, education, and Torah institutions.
However, Smotrich emphasized that the work is unfinished. He urged voters to support his party in the upcoming elections to further Judaize the Galilee and Negev, restore governance against crime in the Arab community, complete judicial reform, bolster Jewish identity, promote a free economy, and ease the burden on soldiers, including through the conscription of Haredim.
He warned that a loss for the right-wing bloc would result in a dangerous left-wing government that would pursue right-wing individuals, evacuate settlements, establish a Palestinian state, shut down media outlets and the Eli pre-military academy, and apologize for displaying the Israeli flag in the Negev and Galilee. Smotrich stressed that the victory of the right-wing depends solely on voters turning out and choosing those proven to pass the electoral threshold.
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