Israeli Finance Minister Clashes With Supreme Court Over Jenin Evacuees

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called on the Prime Minister and Defense Minister to defy a Supreme Court ruling concerning the return of residents to their homes in Jenin, Tulkarm, and the Nur al-Shams camp. Smotrich stated that the court's decision could allow for the rebuilding of terror infrastructure in the northern West Bank, which the IDF had targeted during the war. He sharply criticized the three justices who heard the petition, Yitzhak Amit, Alex Stein, and Khaled Kabub, accusing them of endangering Israel's security and interfering with military decisions, drawing a parallel to alleged judicial interference preceding the October 7th failures in Gaza.

In a strong statement, Smotrich asserted that security matters should not be subject to judicial review, declaring that "Israel's security is non-justiciable and is entrusted solely to those who bear responsibility and were chosen for this purpose by the people." He also indicated his determination to advance the judicial reform.

The Supreme Court's ruling requires the IDF to provide a timeline for the return of residents to their homes in the affected areas. Smotrich argued that this constitutes an unprecedented intervention in the army's operational management and warned of severe security implications. He further criticized the possibility of justices being involved in forming an inquiry committee to examine responsibility for the October 7th massacre, suggesting that the justices themselves should be investigated.