Israeli Journalist Slams Finance Minister Smotrich's 'Disconnection' on Galilee Governance

Journalist Raviv Drucker of Channel 13 sharply criticized Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's video statement claiming a loss of Israeli governance and sovereignty in the Galilee. Smotrich had pledged to end this and restore security to Galilee residents.

Drucker expressed disbelief at Smotrich's remarks, questioning how disconnected he could be, especially after four years in power where restoring governance was a central promise. He highlighted the irony of Smotrich seeking votes to bring back governance while simultaneously stating it has been lost.

Drucker pointed to the deployment of hundreds of police officers to secure a faction meeting as evidence of the very governance loss Smotrich decried. He sarcastically suggested a scenario where criminals guard banks and rapists protect women, concluding with a jab that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be tasked with protecting national security.

Other commentators echoed Drucker's criticism. Josh Breiner, a police and crime reporter for Haaretz, noted on X that Smotrich's party had promised to restore governance in the Negev and Galilee in the previous election, making his current claims about the Galilee's lack of governance contradictory. Former MK Einav Bazak of the Democrats called Smotrich's entire video a lie, dismissing the reported large police presence at the faction meeting as exaggerated and unnecessary, claiming only three pensioners were present and no Arab residents or threats were observed. Bazak characterized the video as pure propaganda.