Finance Minister Smotrich Reflects on Disengagement 21 Years Later, Urges Settlement Expansion
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, reflected on the 21st anniversary of the disengagement from Gush Katif and northern Samaria during an interview at the Katif National Responsibility Conference in Yad Binyamin. He recounted his personal experience of being detained by the Shin Bet during the struggle against the disengagement in the summer of 2005, describing the emotional pain of witnessing the evacuation while feeling he had done his part to prevent what he called a grave mistake.
Smotrich emphasized that internal disputes within the national camp should no longer dominate discourse, especially as efforts to rectify the disengagement's consequences are underway. He highlighted recent developments in northern Samaria, including the annulment of legislation and the reestablishment of settlements, as evidence of progress in correcting the past.
Looking ahead, Smotrich addressed the topic of resuming settlement in the Gaza Strip, referencing a recent march near the Gaza border aimed at demanding the area's resettlement. He stated this is crucial both because it is part of the Land of Israel and because security and victory ultimately depend on it.
On the political front, Smotrich warned against splits within the national camp ahead of upcoming elections, calling such risks potentially disastrous for Israel. He urged political aspirants to join existing parties rather than forming new factions and expressed support for a broad unity government grounded in Zionist, national, and Jewish principles. He called for inclusive leadership without boycotts or vetoes.
Concluding, Smotrich reflected on the lessons of the disengagement, stressing the difficulty of building versus the ease of destruction. He warned against complacency and underscored the responsibility to protect Israel’s ongoing settlement efforts, which represent decades of hard work that could be undone swiftly if vigilance lapses.
