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Smotrich offers D-9 reserve driver Avraham Zarbiv second slot on Religious Zionism list

The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
Smotrich offers D-9 reserve driver Avraham Zarbiv second slot on Religious Zionism list

Primary source Internal intake · 1 reviewed intake signal · Desk window 08:05

TL;DR

Religious Zionism chairman Bezalel Smotrich met with Avraham Zarbiv, a reserve D-9 bulldozer driver who gained fame for destroying terrorist infrastructure in Gaza and Lebanon and lit a torch on Independence Day, and offered him a spot on the party list, likely in second place, according to Amit Segal (N12).

01 · THE DISPATCH

Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionism party, has reportedly met with Avraham Zarbiv, a reserve D-9 bulldozer driver who became a public figure for his role in demolishing terrorist infrastructure in Gaza and Lebanon. Zarbiv was selected to light a torch at the 2025 Independence Day ceremony. According to Amit Segal (N12), Smotrich offered Zarbiv a spot on the party list, likely the second slot. The move is seen as an attempt to boost the party's image with a hero figure. No official confirmation from the party has been issued.

02 · How it developed

2 developments

  1. Latest

    Zarbiv is also a rabbinical court judge.

  2. Smotrich offers D-9 reserve driver Avraham Zarbiv second slot on Religious Zionism list

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03 · Source and signal

Source and signal

A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.

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Desk accountability

This dispatch is published under The Zioneer Intelligence Desk. Raw intake channels remain internal provenance; an external outlet or channel is named only when it materially helps readers evaluate a specific claim.