Bezalel Smotrich
Bezalel Yoel Smotrich is an Israeli politician and lawyer who has served as the Minister of Finance since 2022. The leader of the Religious Zionist Party, he previously served as a Knesset member for the Jewish Home and Yamina, leaving in 2023 after resigning under the Norwegian Law, allowing him to remain a minister in the government while his seat in the Knesset could be taken by another candidate from his party.
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Oct 1, 2026
Lean Right
Finance Minister Smotrich has vowed to oppose any deal that halts the war before Hamas is destroyed and is pushing for expanded settlements in the West Bank.
Likud shares Smotrich's ideological commitment to Greater Israel but is wary of his threats to bring down the government over a hostage deal that many Israelis support.
Oct 1, 2026
Lean Left
Smotrich is pushing settlement expansion and threatening to dismantle the government if the war ends without Hamas destroyed.
The left views him as the chief architect of de facto annexation, and his budget transfers to settlements are a direct attack on any two-state framework.
Oct 1, 2026
Far Left
Smotrich has advocated for the annexation of the West Bank and blocked funds to Arab municipalities.
Hadash sees Smotrich as a key architect of apartheid and a danger to both Palestinians and Israeli democracy.
Oct 1, 2026
Far Right
Smotrich is not mentioned in these articles but is a key figure in the current government pushing for settlement expansion.
He is the champion of Religious Zionism in the cabinet, fighting for settlement sovereignty and opposing any Palestinian state.
Oct 1, 2026
Center
Smotrich commented on the Flydubai attack saying Israel must relate to intentions, not results, and that anyone who tried to kill 180 Israelis must pay as if they had succeeded.
Yesh Atid views Smotrich as a far-right provocateur who exploits security incidents to push his extremist agenda and divert attention from his failure to address Haredi draft evasion.
Oct 1, 2026
Lean Left
Smotrich is pushing for full annexation of West Bank settlements and blocking Palestinian Authority funds, drawing sharp US criticism.
Labor and Meretz see him as the architect of de facto annexation and a primary obstacle to any two-state solution, with his policies actively destroying the possibility of a negotiated peace.
Oct 1, 2026
Far Left
Smotrich is threatening to withhold support for the budget unless West Bank settlement construction is dramatically expanded.
Hadash condemns Smotrich's annexation plans and his role as a settler leader driving ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.
Sep 30, 2026
Lean Left
Smotrich, finance minister and far-right leader, is pushing settlement expansion and punitive measures against Palestinians.
Labor/Meretz condemn his extremist agenda and warn that his policies will lead to international isolation and economic damage.
Sep 30, 2026
Far Left
Smotrich is advancing plans for settlement expansion in the West Bank and blocking funds to Arab municipalities.
Hadash condemns Smotrich for entrenching the occupation and for racist incitement, calling his policies a war crime.
Sep 28, 2026
Lean Left
The Finance Minister is advancing a budget with deep cuts to social services while increasing funds for settlements.
The left accuses him of economic extremism that harms working families and pours money into West Bank settlements instead of the periphery.