Israel’s Religious Zionism alliance

As Israelis go to the polls for the fifth time since 2019, the far-right religious umbrella Religious Zionism alliance could become the third-largest party in the Knesset

     
1 2 3
     
Aug-Sep: Likud party leader, Benjamin Netanyahu (third left), brokers deals with far-right Religious Zionism Party, Otzma Yehudit and Noam parties to run together in election

Religious Zionism alliance: New incarnation of movement of late Rabbi Meir Kahane (inset).
Kahane’s ideology was considered so repugnant that Israel banned him from parliament

Alliance platform: Annexation of West Bank settlements, deport Arab politicians, attack judicial system, including revoking criminal infraction “fraud and breach of trust” – basis of three of four corruption charges that Netanyahu is facing


1 Bezalel Smotrich: Leader of Religious Zionist Party. Arrested by Shin Bet security service in 2005 for allegedly planning attacks on Israeli infrastructure
          
2 Itamar Ben Gvir: Leader of Otzma Yehudit and Kahane disciple. Wants to deport “disloyal” Arab Israelis who attack soldiers, impose death penalty on terrorists and enable Jewish
worship on Temple Mount – currently prohibited
 
3 Avi Maoz: Leader of Noam party. Openly homophobic to LGBT community, extreme views on Israeli Arab population and women’s rights – role is to marry and have children
      

Sources: Foreign Policy, Times of Israel 
Pictures: Getty Images, Library of Congress 
© GRAPHIC NEWS