Finance Minister Smotrich Condemns Supreme Court's Response as Criminal Extortion

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sharply criticized the Supreme Court's recent response, accusing the judiciary of engaging in criminal extortion through threats. Smotrich described the court's actions as resembling intimidation tactics used by protection rackets, questioning what might come next, such as violent threats or attacks against government officials. He emphasized that extortion by threats is a criminal offense that requires police investigation and insisted that no one, including senior legal figures like Yitzhak Amit and Gali Baharav-Miara, is above the law. Smotrich concluded by expressing confidence that this 'protection racket' will be defeated at the ballot box.