Bezalel Smotrich urged new immigrants to back the Religious Zionist Party, citing a range of measures his party advanced — including tax exemptions, recognition of foreign diplomas, rental aid and expanded Aliyah services — to ease absorption. He emphasized RZP's commitment to national security and opposition to territorial concessions. Smotrich defended the party's push for judicial reform and highlighted what he described as positive economic indicators during the Israel-Hamas War. He concluded that RZP serves all citizens and seeks public trust going into the election.
Smotrich Urges New Immigrants to Back RZP, Citing Aid, Security and Economic Record
Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party head Bezalel Smotrich at the primary count, Jerusalem, July 26, 2026. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party (RZP) leader Bezalel Smotrich urged new immigrants to support his party in the upcoming election, telling The Jerusalem Post that RZP has advanced concrete measures to help olim settle and integrate in Israel.
Support for New Immigrants
Smotrich highlighted that the Aliyah minister, Ofir Sofer, comes from RZP and described a package of policies aimed at easing absorption. 'We introduced tax exemptions for new immigrants, recognition of foreign diplomas, rental assistance, and greatly expanded the work of the Aliyah Ministry,' he said. 'We want our brothers and sisters to come here and feel that this is their home.'
Security and Territorial Policy
Smotrich framed the party as committed to national security and opposed to territorial concessions. He said RZP would work to 'put an end to the disastrous idea of dividing the land, handing over territory, and establishing a terrorist state in the heart of the Land of Israel.'
Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party head Bezalel Smotrich at the primary count, Jerusalem, July 26, 2026. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Judicial Reform and Governance
He defended RZP's backing of judicial reform — a contentious push to limit certain judicial powers that the coalition promoted before the Israel-Hamas War — arguing the aim is to 'ensure that we have a real democracy, where the Knesset, the government, and the judiciary do not step on each other's toes.'
Economic Record
As finance minister, Smotrich said he steered the economy 'through the longest and most expensive war in Israel's history,' claiming the shekel has remained strong, the stock market has risen, and the high-tech sector has posted record performance under his stewardship. He presented these economic indicators as evidence of effective leadership during a period of national crisis.
'We serve all the people of Israel, just as the State of Israel does, and I believe we are deserving of a great deal of public trust,'
Speaking at the RZP primary count in Jerusalem on July 26, 2026, Smotrich positioned his party as both a defender of immigrant interests and a steward of national security and economic stability ahead of the election.
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