Smotrich Removes MK Moshe Solomon from Knesset Committees After Torah Study Vote

Following his vote against the Basic Law on Torah study, contrary to his party’s position, MK Moshe Solomon was removed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from all Knesset committees on which he serves. Solomon responded, “It pains me that this decision was made. I am part of the Religious Zionism party, and I will remain part of it.”

Finance Minister and Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich took the unusual punitive step of removing MK Moshe Solomon from all Knesset committees on which he serves on behalf of the faction. The move came after Solomon voted against the “Basic Law: Torah Study” in a plenum vote in the Knesset earlier today.

People in Smotrich’s circle quickly clarified the reasons for the harsh measure, saying it was a blatant violation of factional discipline after understandings had been reached in advance. According to Smotrich, MK Solomon did not express opposition during the faction meeting to the decision to support the bill at this stage. The factional position that was set was to support the bill in the current vote, on the condition that later in the legislative process the controversial comparison between Torah scholars and those serving in the Israel Defense Forces would be removed from the bill.

After Solomon chose to act contrary to these understandings and vote against the bill in the plenum, it was decided to impose on him the immediate sanction of removal from the committees. MK Moshe Solomon refused to retract his vote or apologize, and clarified that he acted from deep conscientious motives that could not be compromised politically.

The removed MK published a sharp statement explaining the reasons for his vote. “I was just informed that the Religious Zionism faction and the faction chairman decided to remove me from membership in all Knesset committees,” Solomon wrote in a post on his X account. “It pains me that this decision was made. I am part of the Religious Zionism movement and will remain part of it. Like a hotel: the luxurious restroom building was inaugurated in Meron, will Satmar Hasidim use it? Chaim Rozenboim | 19:10 ‘The Haredi Edah’ closed all the kollels: ‘A war of destruction with self-sacrifice at the gates of prisons across the country’ Daniel Hertz | 17:09”

“In my view, and as I have said everywhere since the war began, I represent the values of Religious Zionism and those who sent us. Of course, there are disagreements, whether in legal interpretation, political conduct, or public decisions. But I am sure that my friends in Religious Zionism would also not want the bill brought to a vote, and are certain that they represent our public.”

He added: “I am loyal to the faction and to shared decisions. But at the same time, I am a public representative. I cannot do violence to my conscience. I cannot look into the eyes of the bereaved families from our community, Religious Zionism, and vote for a law that says there is no need to integrate Torah and army service. When I accompanied dozens of yeshiva, advanced yeshiva, and pre-military academy students and graduates to burial during the war, I promised myself that I would not lend a hand to such a moral and eternal injustice. If this is the price I have to pay, then this is the price. I accept the party chairman’s decision, and I hope I will be able to change the faction’s position later.”

He concluded: “Those who are humiliated but do not humiliate others, hear their shame and do not respond, act out of love and rejoice in suffering, of them Scripture says: ‘But those who love Him are as the sun when it rises in its might’ (Shabbat 88b).”