Bezalel Smotrich

Israeli far-right slam Bennett over claim West Bank zones could remain under Palestinian control

The former prime minister also condemned illegal settlement activity, but backed the construction of communities permitted under Israeli law

By Melanie Swan

1 min read

Naftali Bennett speaks during a press conference in the southern Israeli city of Ofakim, June 23, 2026 (Flash90)

Bezalel Smotrich

Arrest warrant for Smotrich sought at ICC, he claims

By Daniel Ben-David

1 min read

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich holds a press conference ahead of the vote on the state budget at the Knesset on March 29, 2026 (Flash90)

Israeli Politics

Smotrich claims forming government with Arab party was ‘greater calamity’ than October 7 failings

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich holds a press conference in Jerusalem, on March 11, 2026 (Flash90)

West Bank

Israel withholds over $200 million in PA tax revenue

By JC Reporter

1 min read

Defence Minister Israel Katz, (3L), Yossi Dagan, Head of the Shomron Regional Council (4L), and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (4R) stand for the national anthem as they attend the resettlement ceremony of Sa-Nur, south of Jenin, in the West Bank on April 19, 2026 (Getty Images)

West Bank

Israeli ministers hail restored West Bank settlement for ‘killing the idea of a Palestinian state

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich (Photo: Flash90/JNS)

Israel-Iran War

Bezalel Smotrich’s son ‘wounded by a Hezbollah rocket’, finance minister confirms

By JC Reporter

2 min read

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Image: Getty Images)

West Bank

Smotrich calls on next government ‘encourage migration’ of Palestinians from the West Bank

By Jamie Shapiro

1 min read

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Israel confirms creation of 19 new West Bank settlements

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the project, which includes the recognition of previously illegal outposts, is designed to prevent a potential Palestinian state in future

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

December 22, 2025 14:50

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich seen after a press conference at the Ministry of Finance in Jerusalem on December 4, 2025 (Flash90)

Religious Zionism expected to back revised Charedi draft bill

The redrafted bill has heavily watered down sanctions against draft dodgers, but is set to pass through the Israeli parliament with the support of some unlikely allies

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

December 11, 2025 11:20

Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich talks with a Charedi MK ahead of US President Trump's address to the Knesset on October 13, 2025 (Getty Images)

Smotrich claims he’s in talks with Trump administration over post-war Gaza ‘real estate bonanza’

The far-right minister has long advocated Israeli settlement of the Strip and the ‘voluntary emigration’ of the Palestinian population

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

September 18, 2025 11:32

Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sits before a press conference near the settlement of Maale Adumim in the West Bank on August 14, 2025 (Image: Getty)

Smotrich approves more than 3,000 new homes in long-frozen West Bank settlement to ‘bury Palestinian state’

The project has been delayed for more than a decade due to international opposition

By JC Reporter

1 min read

August 14, 2025 11:31

A view of neighbourhoods in Ma'ale in the West Bank (Image: Yonatan Sindel/ Flash 90)

By Yaakov Katz

Netanyahu’s Gaza options are limited but the biggest constraints are self-inflicted

Attacked by left and right, the prime minister’s plans to seize the Strip’s capital risks deepening the Jewish state’s isolation. The failure to outline a coherent “day after” plan is a huge mistake

4 min read

August 10, 2025 14:41

Protesters gather in a demonstration organised by the families of the Israeli hostages taken captive in the Gaza Strip since the October 2023 calling for action to secure their release outside the Defence Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv on August 9, 2025. (Image: Getty)

Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich poses next to ‘death to Arabs’ graffiti during West Bank visit

The image was taken during a tour of settlement Sa-Nur

By Eliana Silver

1 min read

August 7, 2025 13:06

Hostage talks collapse as Israel and Hamas both announce withdrawal

The terror group said it wouldn’t come back to the table until more aid entered Gaza, while Israel’s far-right finance minister claimed only the its ‘total surrender’ would be accepted

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

August 1, 2025 14:47

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (c) has seemingly confirmed that Israel will not engage in any more ceasefire negotiations with Hamas (Image: Getty)

Netherlands sanctions far-right Israeli ministers over ‘calls for ethnic cleansing’ in Gaza

The move was condemned by right-wing opposition figures as ‘hatred against Israel’

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

July 29, 2025 10:41

The Netherlands has banned far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich (L) and Itamar Ben-Gvir (R) from entering the country over their alleged 'incitement' of settler violence in the West Bank and 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza (Image: Flash90)

Far-right minister claims IDF chief supports ‘security annexation’ of sections of Gaza

Bezalel Smotrich predicted that Israel would maintain a ‘permanent presence’ in the enclave even after the war ends

By JC Reporter

2 min read

July 23, 2025 15:30

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has claimed that IDF's chief of staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, supports the 'security annexation' of sections of Gaza (Image: Flash90)

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Bezalel Smotrich

Israeli far-right slam Bennett over claim West Bank zones could remain under Palestinian control

Arrest warrant for Smotrich sought at ICC, he claims

Smotrich claims forming government with Arab party was ‘greater calamity’ than October 7 failings

Israel withholds over $200 million in PA tax revenue

Israeli ministers hail restored West Bank settlement for ‘killing the idea of a Palestinian state

Bezalel Smotrich’s son ‘wounded by a Hezbollah rocket’, finance minister confirms

Smotrich calls on next government ‘encourage migration’ of Palestinians from the West Bank

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More from Bezalel Smotrich

Israel confirms creation of 19 new West Bank settlements

Religious Zionism expected to back revised Charedi draft bill

Smotrich claims he’s in talks with Trump administration over post-war Gaza ‘real estate bonanza’

Smotrich approves more than 3,000 new homes in long-frozen West Bank settlement to ‘bury Palestinian state’

Netanyahu’s Gaza options are limited but the biggest constraints are self-inflicted

Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich poses next to ‘death to Arabs’ graffiti during West Bank visit

Hostage talks collapse as Israel and Hamas both announce withdrawal

Netherlands sanctions far-right Israeli ministers over ‘calls for ethnic cleansing’ in Gaza

Far-right minister claims IDF chief supports ‘security annexation’ of sections of Gaza