Smotrich Says Israel Is Building a Security Buffer That Its Rivals Will Dismantle

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Monday during a faction meeting of his Religious Zionism party that Yair Golan is Gadi Eisenkot’s candidate for defense minister, and that, in his words, “what he promises to do, he will do, the left knows how to work.” He argued that Eisenkot is trying to mislead right-wing voters, and criticized what he described as an irresponsible campaign that had called for surrendering to Hamas.

Smotrich said, “We are building the security buffer zone and they will dismantle it,” adding that this had happened in Lebanon and would happen again in Judea and Samaria. He said Religious Zionism would keep a right-wing government in power. He also spoke of “thorough clearing and plowing,” referring to infrastructure above and below ground.

Addressing different fronts of the war, Smotrich said Israel represents the state’s interests and has led a difficult campaign that will continue. He said there will not be a “terror regime” in Iran that seeks to destroy Israel.

He also said the IDF will remain in the Lebanon area and expand its gains. Smotrich added that Israel knows how to act responsibly, stand firm, and manage relations with a superpower that is a historic friend and, in his words, “the best president for the State of Israel ever.”