Religious Zionism Party Sets July 26 for Primary Elections to Form Knesset List

The Religious Zionism party has announced its internal primary elections will take place on Sunday, July 26, 2026, to determine its candidate list for the upcoming Knesset elections. The deadline to submit candidacies is Tuesday, July 21 at 23:59. Voting will be conducted in person, likely in Jerusalem, with exact polling locations and hours to be announced later. Party members will choose from three to four candidates on the ballot.

According to the party's rules, non-Knesset party members must gather 15 signatures from the party center and pay a 240-shekel registration fee to run. Sitting Knesset members only need to pay the fee without collecting signatures. External candidates not currently in the party require approval from the party chairman to shorten their membership qualification period. The party chairman is Knesset member Bezalel Smotrich.

The party's management, excluding running Knesset members, will serve as the official election committee. A special committee will also be established to address voting accommodations for party center members unable to attend due to reserve military service, travel abroad, or other exceptional circumstances. The timing of the primaries was chosen after extensive discussion to allow sufficient preparation for a democratic process and to complete the primaries before the August recess and potential Knesset dissolution.

In closing, the party urged candidates to conduct their campaigns with fairness, integrity, friendship, and goodwill, reflecting the values of Religious Zionism.