Smotrich Admits English Speech Gaffe Damaged His Confidence

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has revealed that a viral video of him speaking English early in his tenure significantly impacted his self-confidence, leading him to avoid public English speeches since. Speaking in a recent interview, Smotrich recounted an address he gave in English to the "Bonds" board shortly after taking office. While he felt the speech itself was successful, a few moments of nervousness resulted in minor errors.

These brief stumbles were edited into a short, widely circulated video clip that Smotrich admitted affected him more than he would have liked. "In a moment of candor, I admit it lowered my self-confidence, all at once. And perhaps I made a mistake there," he stated. He believes the correct response would have been to immediately deliver another English speech, comparing it to getting back on the road after a car accident.

Smotrich confirmed he has not delivered another public English speech since that incident. He later attempted to frame this decision ideologically, suggesting a preference for speaking Hebrew as a matter of national pride, akin to the French prioritizing their language. However, he clarified that this is not due to an inability to communicate in English, stating he can comfortably hold one-on-one conversations in the language.