Settlements Minister Strock wins 2nd spot after Smotrich in Religious Zionism primary

Religious Zionism held its primary election Sunday, with Settlements Minister Orit Strock securing the second spot after party leader Bezalel Smotrich, who was reelected last year. Other top spots went to MKs Simcha Rothman, Zvi Sukkot, Ohad Tal, and newcomer Omer Rahamim. The party, which heavily supports settlement expansion, has overseen the approval of 103 new West Bank settlements under the current government. Despite recent polls projecting the party to win only four or five seats, Smotrich predicted they would secure 10 seats in the October 27 election. He also warned against a potential left-wing government led by Gadi Eisenkot, stating, "[Eisenkot] will destroy everything we have built in Judea and Samaria and, together with his left-wing partners, return to the Oslo path of establishing a Palestinian state."