Makalef Accuses Smotrich of Exploiting Fallen Soldiers to Stir Hatred

After a long silence, United Torah Judaism lawmaker and faction chair Uri Maklef gave a Tuesday night interview on Radio Kol Barama with Yacov Grodka, addressing the collapse of the enlistment bill, the daycare subsidy bill, pressure on Likud, and a sharp public dispute with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Maklef said he had stayed out of the media because the coalition was in a sensitive legislative period, arguing that anything said on the station quickly became a political tool in the broader press. Now that the bill regulating Torah students’ status is off the table for the moment, he said it was easier to speak.