Rabbi Avraham Zarbib Declines No. 2 Religious Zionism Slot

Rabbinical court judge and IDF reservist Rabbi Avraham Zarbib has declined Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s offer of a guaranteed second place on Religious Zionism’s Knesset slate. Sources close to Rabbi Zarbib said a possible ministerial appointment was also discussed. They said he rejected the proposal for several reasons, including his wish to remain “part of all the people of Israel and not something partisan.” Rabbi Zarbib, a Combat Engineering Corps D9 operator during the war and an Independence Day torch lighter, had met Smotrich about the offer roughly a month earlier.