Smotrich tells reservists their sacrifice is reshaping the Middle East

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich published a public message to reservists praising their service in the war and arguing that Israel’s security situation has improved markedly under the right-wing government. He urged them not to heed what he called the pessimism of left-wing media and the opposition, saying they are trying to spread despair for political reasons.

In the post, addressed to “my beloved reservist brothers,” Smotrich said that “hundreds of days” of reserve duty, along with the sacrifices of their families, are “changing the Middle East.” He said Israel had moved away from decades of withdrawals, international pressure and concessions to terror, and claimed the government had changed both Israel’s security doctrine and its diplomacy.

Smotrich listed what he described as interim results of the war. He said the IDF controls a security buffer zone over 70% of the Gaza Strip and has destroyed terror infrastructure above and below ground there. He acknowledged that Hamas has not yet been defeated, but said it has been severely weakened, that there is international commitment to its destruction, and that there will be no reconstruction without demilitarization and no Israeli withdrawal from the buffer zone before then.

He made similar claims about Lebanon, saying the IDF controls a security zone there and is expanding the destruction of Hezbollah’s infrastructure. He said Hezbollah has also been badly damaged and that there is international backing for Israel’s freedom of action to prevent threats and renewed build-up. Smotrich added that residents of the north and south now feel far safer than before the war, said Iran is weaker militarily, politically and economically, and concluded that Israel’s enemies are weaker while Israel is stronger.