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.
Standing...
Stories...
Jun 28, 2026
Lean Left
Smotrich presents a 2024 budget that slashes social welfare while boosting settlement budgets and yeshiva stipends.
Criticized for prioritizing ideological spending over economic relief for working-class and Arab communities.
Jun 28, 2026
Far Left
Smotrich announces de facto annexation of settlement outposts and slashes funds for Palestinian villages.
Hadash warns his actions violate international law and destroy any chance for a two-state solution.
Jun 27, 2026
Far Left
Smotrich advances West Bank land seizure and settlement budget increases.
Hadash denounces his annexationist policies as fueling ethnic cleansing and blocking any Palestinian state.
Jun 26, 2026
Far Left
Pushes for accelerated West Bank settlement expansion and sanctions against the Palestinian Authority.
Hadash condemns him as a far-right extremist driving annexation and settler violence, undermining any peace prospects.
Jun 25, 2026
Far Right
New poll shows Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party gaining strength, reaching five seats.
Praised by Religious Zionism as the correct leader to advance settlement and security policies, countering centrist weakness.
Jun 25, 2026
Center
Praised Shin Bet chief Zini's decision to close the LGBTQ cell and remove a 7/10 memorial, calling it 'removing progressive agendas.'
For Yesh Atid, Smotrich's support signals the government's assault on pluralism and misuse of security institutions for ideological ends.
Jun 25, 2026
Lean Left
Smotrich ordered a freeze on Palestinian building permits in Area C and advanced annexation plans while cost of living soars.
Labor/Meretz condemn Smotrich for prioritizing settlement expansion over economic relief, and for his racist rhetoric about Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Jun 24, 2026
Far Left
Smotrich is leading the push for full Israeli annexation of the West Bank and has approved thousands of new settlement housing units this week.
Hadash views Smotrich as a key ideological enemy whose plans destroy any chance for a Palestinian state and two-state solution.
Jun 23, 2026
Far Right
Smotrich, as a leader of Religious Zionism, is actively involved in the coalition push for sovereignty alternatives to Bennett's autonomy proposal.
Religious Zionism praises Smotrich for championing full Israeli sovereignty and opposing any plan that grants Palestinian autonomy, aligning with the party's core ideology.
Jun 23, 2026
Lean Left
Smotrich threatens to collapse coalition if hostage deal includes Palestinian prisoner release.
Smotrich's fanaticism on annexation and settlements is a direct target of Labor/Meretz criticism.