Smotrich Removes MK Moshe Solomon from Knesset Committees After He Rebelled in Vote on ‘Basic Law: Torah Study’

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that he is removing MK Moshe Solomon from all Knesset committees on which he served, after Solomon voted today, Wednesday, against the Basic Law: Torah Study.

In response, MK Solomon said, “I cannot lie to myself. I cannot look into the eyes of the bereaved families from our community, the Religious Zionists, and vote for a law that says there is no need to combine Torah and military service.”

The Religious Zionist Party said today that a faction meeting was held on Monday, during which it was decided to condition support for the bill on deleting the comparison between Torah students and military service members. It was also claimed that MK Solomon did not say he would vote against the bill.

In an official statement issued by the faction today, it said, “MK Solomon chose to act on his own, contrary to the faction’s decision. He did not inform his colleagues in advance that he intended to vote against it, and surprised all the members of the faction with his conduct, thereby severely damaging their trust.

“Such conduct is unacceptable and cannot exist within proper faction work, which is based on shared responsibility, trust, and faction discipline. MK Solomon was supposed to vote according to the faction’s position and, at the very least, inform the party chairman or faction chairman in advance of his intention to vote against it and coordinate the move with them.”

Regarding Smotrich’s decision to remove Solomon from all Knesset committees, it was written that it was made “out of the understanding that anyone who is not committed to the faction’s decisions and does not act with transparency and integrity with his colleagues cannot represent its position in Knesset committees.”

MK Solomon responded, “I am hurt by the decision. I am part of the Religious Zionist movement and will remain part of it. In my view, and as I have said everywhere since the outbreak of the war, I represent the values of the Religious Zionist movement and those who sent us. When I accompanied dozens of students and graduates of hesder yeshivas, advanced yeshivas and preparatory programs to burials throughout the war, I promised myself that I would not lend a hand to such a moral and eternal injustice. If this is the price I have to pay, then this will be the price.”