Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich spoke on Wednesday in the Knesset plenum in defense of Minister Orit Strock, after opposition lawmakers criticized her work. He accused both the opposition and the media of “malicious populism” and said they were “pouring her blood.”
Smotrich said Strock spends “all her life, time and energy” on Zionism, development and settlement in the Negev and the Galilee. He listed places she visits regularly, including Zra’it, Shlomi, Manara, Be’eri, Nir Oz and Nahal Oz, and said, “She has no day and no night.”
Addressing the budget allocations for her ministry, Smotrich said he supports them fully, adding that he is in favor of any effort to strengthen and expand the Zionist work of the Settlement Division. He then repeated his charge that opponents were engaging in a vicious campaign against Strock.
Smotrich also turned directly to MK Michael Biton, asking him to speak out against the “terrible bloodletting” directed at what he called one of the most righteous women in Israel. He described Strock as a politician with “zero ego” and “zero interests,” living modestly and simply, and lashed out at the media as well.
