Rabbi Avraham Zarviv Rejects Religious Zionism Party Offer from Smotrich

Rabbi Avraham Zarviv, known for his role as a D9 driver and torchbearer at Israel's Independence Day ceremony, declined an offer from Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, to join the party with a reserved spot in the upcoming Knesset elections. The offer reportedly included not only a secured place on the party list but also the possibility of a ministerial position if political conditions allowed. Despite these incentives, Zarviv chose to remain independent, citing his desire to belong to all of the Jewish people rather than a specific political faction. His refusal is seen as a setback for Smotrich, who aimed to add a respected public figure with religious and military credentials to his party's slate. Details about the exact list position or ministerial role proposed were not disclosed, but Zarviv's response was firm in rejecting the political affiliation.