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 22, 2026
Far Right
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that Israel will remain in southern Lebanon for years until Hezbollah is disarmed, praising IDF achievements.
Praised by Religious Zionism for his unbending commitment to security and territorial control, opposing any withdrawal before Hezbollah's disarmament.
Jun 22, 2026
Lean Left
Smotrich is advancing legislation to expand settlement sovereignty in the West Bank, drawing international condemnation.
Labor/Meretz condemn him as the architect of annexation policies that destroy any chance for peace and entrench occupation.
Jun 22, 2026
Far Left
Smotrich announced new settlement construction and legalization of outposts in the West Bank.
Hadash condemns Smotrich for actively annexing Palestinian land and undermining any two-state solution.
Jun 21, 2026
Lean Left
Finance Minister advancing settlement budgets and annexation plans while blocking Palestinian economic aid.
Labor/Meretz sees him as the chief architect of de facto annexation and a threat to any peace prospects, embodying the far-right agenda.
Jun 21, 2026
Far Left
Smotrich advances a plan to legalize dozens of West Bank outposts and seize Palestinian land for settlers.
Hadash denounces Smotrich's de facto annexation agenda as a direct threat to peace and international law.
Jun 19, 2026
Center
Finance Minister and Religious Zionism leader who dismissed MK Moshe Solomon after discovering his talks to join Yoz Hendel's party.
Yesh Atid sees Smotrich's internal purge as evidence of the right-wing bloc's dysfunction and instability, opening the door for centrist alternatives.
Jun 19, 2026
Lean Left
The Finance Minister is advancing a budget that slashes social spending while funding illegal settlement outposts, sparking street demonstrations.
Smotrich represents the far-right's systematic dismantling of the welfare state and two-state solution, making him a key adversary for the left.
Jun 19, 2026
Far Left
Smotrich is advancing a plan to strip the Palestinian Authority of tax revenues.
Hadash sees Smotrich as an extremist settler leader deliberately strangling the Palestinian economy.
Jun 18, 2026
Lean Left
Pushes a budget that cuts funding for Arab municipalities and expands subsidies for West Bank settlements.
Labor/Meretz condemn his overtly racist budget priorities as a direct assault on equality and the two-state solution.
Jun 18, 2026
Far Left
Smotrich is advancing plans to legalize dozens of illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank.
Hadash sees Smotrich's actions as a direct violation of international law and a deliberate sabotage of any possibility for a two-state solution.