Finance Minister Smotrich Slams Supreme Court Over Security Ruling

Finance and Defense Minister Bezalel Smotrich launched a sharp attack on Supreme Court justices following a ruling that prompted the IDF to examine accelerating the return of Arab residents to refugee camps in the northern Samaria. Smotrich appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, urging them to instruct the IDF not to cooperate with the court's decision. He asserted that security matters fall outside the court's jurisdiction.

In a statement titled "Strategic Warning," Smotrich directly criticized the judges, naming Justices Amit, Stein, and Kabub, stating they "endanger Israel's security." He accused them of being irresponsible and lacking understanding of security issues, drawing a parallel to their involvement prior to the October 7th events in Gaza. Smotrich argued that judicial intervention directly harms the achievements of combat operations, claiming the court "ties the hands of the IDF" and facilitates the rebuilding of Arab terror infrastructure in northern Samaria, which soldiers had dismantled.

Smotrich also addressed future inquiry committees regarding the failures of October 7th, suggesting that the justices themselves should be the primary subjects of investigation rather than appointing committees. He called on the political leadership to define the boundaries for the judicial system, stating, "I call on the Prime Minister and my colleague the Defense Minister to order the IDF not to cooperate with the court and not to allow the re-establishment of terror camps. Israel's security is non-justiciable and is entrusted solely to those who bear responsibility and were elected for this purpose by the people."

Smotrich reiterated his commitment to advancing reforms in the Israeli judicial system, emphasizing a determination to "complete the reform in the Israeli judicial system and fortify Israel's security for generations."