Although most polls show Religious Zionism, which is led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, passing the electoral threshold, the numbers are too close for comfort for Israel’s premier.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Otzma Yehudit political party, and Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionism party, at an election campaign event in Sderot, on Oct. 26, 2022. Credit: Flash90.
(Jun. 10, 2026 / JNS) Polls tend to show the Religious Zionism Party, a key part of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, passing the electoral threshold, but the numbers appear to be too close for comfort for the Israeli premier.
Netanyahu is urging the party, which Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich leads, to merge with the Otzma Yehudit Party (“Jewish Power”) to























