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...
Jul 18, 2026
Far Left
Announcing additional funding for illegal outposts and settler militias in the West Bank.
His policies are condemned as de facto annexation, eroding Palestinian rights and fueling unrest.
Jul 17, 2026
Far Left
Smotrich announces a new 10,000-unit settlement expansion plan for the West Bank, bypassing defense ministry oversight.
Hadash sees this as a direct step toward de facto annexation, eroding the two-state solution and international law.
Jul 17, 2026
Lean Left
Smotrich promotes new settlement expansion plans in the West Bank, drawing international condemnation.
His annexationist agenda directly undermines the two-state solution and is a core target of Labor/Meretz opposition.
Jul 16, 2026
Far Left
Finance Minister advancing settlement budgets and de facto annexation in the West Bank.
Hadash condemns his racist agenda and blatant violation of international law.
Jul 16, 2026
Far Right
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is a key coalition partner whose policies on settlement and West Bank security are closely tied to the day's counterterror operations.
Smotrich is a hero to Religious Zionists for pushing annexation and hardline policies, and his oversight of funding for security operations in Judea and Samaria is seen as essential.
Jul 16, 2026
Lean Left
Smotrich is pushing for expanded settlement construction and the legalization of outposts, defying US warnings and international law.
Labor/Meretz see Smotrich as an extremist annexationist whose policies erode the two-state solution and drain resources from security and social needs.
Jul 15, 2026
Far Right
Leader of the Religious Zionism party, implicated by the party's response to MK Solomon's dissent.
Smotrich must balance party unity and discipline with respect for individual conscience; his handling of Solomon will be scrutinized.
Jul 15, 2026
Lean Left
Smotrich advances plans for thousands of new settlement units in the West Bank.
Labor/Meretz oppose his annexationist policies as obstacles to a two-state solution and international law violations.
Jul 15, 2026
Far Left
Smotrich backed a plan to legalize five illegal outposts, drawing international condemnation.
Hadash condemns him for institutionalizing land theft and violating international law.
Jul 13, 2026
Lean Left
The Finance Minister unveiled plans for 3,000 new settlement units in Area C of the West Bank, including deep inside the E1 corridor that would bisect the Palestinian territories.
Labor/Meretz see Smotrich as the architect of de facto annexation, destroying any future of a two-state solution and dragging Israel into international isolation and accusations of apartheid.