Bezalel Smotrich

Israel's leaders reignite the fight over faith, service, and statehood as early elections emerge

Smotrich, Liberman, Gantz, Lapid, and Golan laid out competing visions for Israel’s future as fiscal and political strains fuel talk of elections early next year.

Yair Lapid speaks at a Knesset meeting during the first week of the Israeli Parliament's winter session, October 27, 2025
PRESIDENT ISAAC HERZOG addresses the Knesset plenum at the opening of the winter session on October 20, 2025.

Ohana: Knesset budget to be cut by NIS 125m. following two years of intense war with Hamas

A woman reacts as families of Israeli hostages and supporters protest outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence, marking the two-year anniversary of the deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas from Gaza, in Jerusalem, October 7, 2025

Hostage forum demands meeting with Netanyahu after Hamas 'violations'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, October 27, 2025

Smotrich claims Saudi Arabia denies Israeli tradition and heritage, doubling down on Riyadh row


Camel criticism crisis: Smotrich's comments harm Israel, not Saudi Arabia - opinion

The comments are heard in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Washington, and they shape how Israel is perceived by its current and potential partners in building a more stable and prosperous regional order.

FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich attends a Knesset Finance Committee meeting earlier this year. Ultimately, those who belittle Saudi Arabia are, in effect, belittling Israel’s own future in the region, the writer warns.

Liberman: Netanyahu shouted so loudly after Smotrich's camel remark they nearly called a doctor

Liberman said Netanyahu erupted at Smotrich over his camel remark, fearing it would harm efforts to reach a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.

 MK Avigdor Liberman attends a State Control Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on September 13, 2023.

'He does not represent us': Israeli politicians slam Smotrich after Saudi insult

"To our friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, Smotrich does not represent the State of Israel," Opposition head Yair Lapid wrote in Arabic on X/Twitter.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a committee meeting on September 14, 2025.

Smotrich tells Saudis to 'keep riding camels' over Palestinian state, later apologizes

“If Saudi Arabia says normalization in exchange for a Palestinian state, friends, no thank you. Keep riding camels in the sands of the desert in Saudi Arabia," Smotrich said.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at the Makor Rishon conference in Jerusalem, October 23, 2025

Netanyahu urged Smotrich to hold off on West Bank annexation during Vance’s visit - KAN

"When the vice president, Vance, is visiting here, you don’t stick a finger in his eye,” Netanyahu's office reportedly said in a message to Smotrich.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich attend vote on the state budget at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, March 13, 2024.

'On the way to sovereignty': MKs react to preliminary passing of bill to annex Ma'aleh Adumim

The Knesset passed a preliminary vote to apply Israeli sovereignty in Ma’aleh Adumim, prompting praise from right-wing MKs and criticism from Washington, which warned it could threaten the Gaza deal.

MK Avigdor Liberman attends a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset in Jerusalem, October 22, 2025.

Gov't considers subsidizing flights between Israel and Argentina

Israel’s Finance Ministry plans to invite airlines to bid on launching a direct route to Argentina, exploring whether government support could make the long-haul flight economically viable.

 An El Al flight lands at Ben Gurion Airport, March 31, 2025

Coalition rises as Religious Zionist Party crosses threshold following hostage deal - poll

The coalition’s rise is surprising, as last week’s poll showed Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s parties falling sharply due to their opposition to the Trump Peace Plan.

FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich addresses a news conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem earlier this month. That Smotrich is not an economist, and is quite ignorant of current economic theory and practice, is no secret, says the writer.

Ben-Gvir to Netanyahu: Give Hamas an ultimatum if it continues to delay hostage return

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich commented, "Only military pressure brings back hostages."

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir speaks during a ceremony at the National Police Academy in Beit Shemesh, September 15, 2025.

Israel-Hamas ceasefire now in effect, Justice Ministry publishes list of terrorists to be released

Merz says Germany to give 29 million euros in Gaza humanitarian aid • US to establish coordination center on Gaza in Israel • IDF announces name of fallen soldier

  Celebrations at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv as negotiators set to sign deal freeing all hostages from Gazaץ October 09, 2025.

Likud Minister Miki Zohar: Hostage deal to pass despite Ben-Gvir, Smotrich - exclusive

Zohar expressed his full support for Donald Trump's hostage-ceasefire deal ahead of Israel's security cabinet vote.

Israeli Minister Miki Zohar speaks at The Jerusalem Post's Annual Conference in New York, US, May 19, 2025.