Religious Zionism Party Fears Possible Split

According to sources in the party, Minister Bezalel Smotrich fears a scenario in which three members of his faction break away because of disputes over the draft bill and the Basic Law on Torah Study. The concern is also affecting his public statements on the draft issue and the Torah study Basic Law.

Party sources say Smotrich and those around him are aware of the positions of Minister Ofir Sofer and MK Moshe Solomon, whose views on both issues differ from the party’s official line. Solomon already acted this week and voted against the Basic Law on Torah Study, even though the faction had announced it would support the bill in the preliminary reading.

According to the sources, given polls that place the party at four seats, the concern is that Sofer and Solomon could enlist another MK to join them and break away from the faction, while also potentially taking the party’s name with them. They claim that, after the candidate lists for the Knesset are submitted, a significant change is expected in the tone and in the finance minister’s approach to the draft and Torah study issues. The Religious Zionism Party has not yet responded to the report.