Bezalel Smotrich
Israeli-media coverage mentioning Bezalel Smotrich, translated into English and compared across sources. 48 recent stories.
Netanyahu Pushes New Haredi Deal, Including Arrest Immunity for Draft Evaders
Netanyahu is trying to secure ultra-Orthodox support through a revised Basic Law on Torah study and temporary arrest immunity for draft evaders. The effort faces sharp legal oppos…
Former State Prosecutor Shuli Avni-Shoham Emerges as Leading Candidate to Head Israel Land Authority
Shuli Avni-Shoham, head of Israel’s Corporations Authority and a former state prosecutor, is emerging as the leading candidate to head the Israel Land Authority. Her possible appo…
Poll Shows Bennett Slumps to Single Digits as Netanyahu’s Bloc Holds Majority
A News 14 poll shows Bennett’s Yashar slipping to 9 seats, while Likud stays first with 33. Netanyahu leads the prime-minister preference race, and the right-wing bloc keeps a 63-…
EU envoy says ties with Israel remain strong despite dispute over foreign ministers
EU Ambassador Michael Mann said tensions with Israel are real, but dialogue continues and the relationship remains strategically strong. He criticized settlement expansion, settle…
New Cellular Mast Installed in Shaked-Nur as Part of West Bank Infrastructure Push
A new cellular mast has been installed in Shaked-Nur in northern Samaria. The project is part of a wider Defense Ministry plan to build 51 communication towers across Judea and Sa…
40 Days After Smotrich’s Order, Khan al-Ahmar Still Stands
Forty days after Bezalel Smotrich said he signed an order to demolish Khan al-Ahmar, the Palestinian outpost has not been evacuated. The article says the issue remains unresolved…
Filber Says Bennett and Eisenkot Are Being Counted Twice in the Polls
Shlomo Filber says recent polls double-count the same voters between Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot. He argues that once those voters are counted only once, Channel 14’s number…
EU Ambassador in Israel: Europe Likely to Deploy Force to Replace UNIFIL in Lebanon
EU Ambassador to Israel Michael Mann said the bloc is still weighing sanctions against Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir. He also said the EU will likely send a force to replac…
Israeli Teenage Girls Surge Into Combat-Prep Courses After October 7
The article describes a growing wave of Israeli teenage girls training for combat roles since October 7. It follows several girls preparing for elite IDF units and says women now…
Israel Weighs Grant Funds to Offset Weak Dollar Damage to Tech
Israel’s Finance Ministry and Innovation Authority are considering two grant funds to help tech firms hurt by the weak dollar. The larger fund would support growth companies and m…
Smotrich Slams IDF Chief Over Exclusion of Eli Yeshiva Head
Bezalel Smotrich accused IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir of deepening a rift with religious-Zionist leaders by excluding Rabbi Yigal Levinstein from a meeting on religious soldiers…
Smotrich Says Security Funds Should Not Go to LGBTQ Programming
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich defended Shin Bet chief David Zini after reports he canceled Pride-related displays and events. Smotrich said security funds should not be used f…
MK Tour-Paz Rejects Calls to Shut Ali Pre-Military Academy
Yesh Atid MK Moshe Kinley Tour-Paz defended Naftali Bennett’s stance on illegal settlements and said the government must enforce the law. He rejected Yair Golan’s call to close th…
First Kindergarten Building Installed in Sa-Nur After 21 Years
Sa-Nur received its first kindergarten building on Tuesday, 21 years after the original one was evacuated. The facility is set to open in the coming school year for families alrea…
Smotrich Defends Orit Strock in Knesset Speech, Accuses Opposition and Media of Smear Campaign
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich used a Knesset speech on Wednesday to defend Minister Orit Strock from opposition criticism. He praised her work in settlement and regional devel…
Ultra-Orthodox protesters block roads while leading government coalition
A Hebrew opinion column criticizes ultra-Orthodox activists who blocked roads while being part of the governing establishment. It contrasts their protest against military service…
Strategist Faces Criticism Over TV Commentary and Party Payments
Channel 13 reported that strategist Moshe Klughaft appeared on TV as a commentator while allegedly failing to disclose paid ties to political parties. Klughaft denied advising Isr…
Tax Authority to move against tax breaks for yeshivas tied to draft dodgers
Israel’s Tax Authority is preparing to revoke tax benefits from Haredi yeshivas that include draft dodgers. The move follows guidance from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and…
Knesset legal adviser challenges reported Netanyahu deal with ultra-Orthodox parties
Knesset legal adviser Shagit Afek is opposing a reported Netanyahu deal with ultra-Orthodox parties over legislation linked to dissolving the Knesset. Shas and United Torah Judais…
Smotrich to unveil high-tech aid plan, mulls dollar tax payments
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he will present a high-tech aid package next week as the shekel strengthens. He also said the Finance Ministry is weighing incentives for mu…
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Faces Possible Ouster After Misconduct Findings
The International Criminal Court’s executive office has recommended removing chief prosecutor Karim Khan after internal findings of improper, non-consensual sexual conduct. The de…
Israel’s 2025 Budget Gap Nears 100 Billion Shekels as War Costs and Debt Service Rise
Israel ended 2025 with spending of about 650 billion shekels and revenue of about 552 billion, creating a near 100 billion shekel deficit. War costs, rising debt service, and high…
Ministers, Rabbis and Celebrities Attend Rabbi Shilat’s Daughter’s Wedding
Debi Shilat, daughter of Rabbi Moshe and Bracha Shilat, married Dovi Tzirki Tuesday night in Kfar Chabad. The wedding drew ministers, rabbis, journalists, influencers and celebrit…
Smotrich Says He Took His Son to Get an Ear Piercing
Bezalel Smotrich said on the podcast "Shomer Saf" that he took his teenage son to get an ear piercing after the boy asked for one. The finance minister said he prefers love and tr…
Israel Advances Formalization of Giv'at HaRo'eh With 465 State Land Dunams
Israel declared 465 dunams near Giv'at HaRo'eh state land, advancing the settlement's formalization and expansion. The plan follows prior approvals for jurisdiction, official stat…
State Comptroller Urges Fewer Late-Year Budget Transfers, Flags Flaws in Israel Invoicing System
State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman called on the Finance Ministry to cut back on late-year budget transfers after 30.4 billion shekels in changes were approved in December 2024…
Quiet Moves Reshape Settlement Policy in Hebron and the West Bank
A Hebrew article says quiet legal and administrative steps have transformed settlement policy in Hebron and across the West Bank. It highlights the Cave of the Patriarchs roof pro…
Smotrich unveils compensation plan for businesses hit by extortion
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is advancing a 30 million shekel compensation plan for businesses damaged by extortion and left uncovered by insurance. The scheme, developed wit…
Religious Zionist figures explore a new party with Edelstein and Shaked
Senior Religious Zionist figures have approached Yuli Edelstein and Ayelet Shaked about helping form a new right-center party. The talks are aimed at voters who feel unrepresented…
MK Avichai Boaron Warns of 'Water Terror' and Mass Theft in the West Bank
MK Avichai Boaron says Palestinians are stealing massive amounts of water in the West Bank through illegal hookups and drilling. He warns the practice is polluting aquifers and Is…
Knesset Moves to Scrap Parking-Fee Law, but Lower Prices Are Not Guaranteed
The Knesset Economy Committee approved a measure to repeal the parking-by-the-minute rule, but the change may not lower prices. The repeal was inserted into a broader metropolitan…
Haredi Panel Erupts Over Protest Violence and Rivlin's Call to 'Beat Up' Demonstrators
A Haredi current-affairs panel on Kikar Hashabbat debated police violence against ultra-Orthodox protesters, the Haredi parties' standoff with Netanyahu, and the Supreme Court bat…
Netanyahu Promises Ultra-Orthodox Backing for Their Bills or Faces Knesset Dissolution Vote
Netanyahu met ultra-Orthodox leaders Aryeh Deri and Moshe Gafni to discuss advancing their bills, amid threats to support dissolving the Knesset if he does not comply. The reporte…
Settlers' New Drive Seeks to End Oslo Accords and Build in Area A and B Before Elections
A new settler group called the Home Forum is lobbying to cancel the Oslo Accords and start Jewish building in Areas A and B. It has drawn support from ministers and MKs, while pre…
Bennett Pushes Back on Smotrich, Defends His Position on Illegal West Bank Construction
Naftali Bennett denied changing his views after backlash over comments on illegal construction in Judea and Samaria. He defended enforcing the law on illegal or private land build…
Knesset Panel Approves Metropolitan Transit Reform, Bringing Bnei Brak Into Gush Dan
The Knesset Economy Committee approved a major reform creating metropolitan transit authorities, including Gush Dan, which will bring Bnei Brak into the model. The committee also…
Smotrich weighs interim appointment for disputed Israel Lands Authority chief
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is weighing whether to keep Yehuda Eliyahu as acting head of the Israel Lands Authority after the attorney general backed cancelling his permanen…
Smotrich Says Jerusalem Conference Reflects the Strength of Religious Zionism
Bezalel Smotrich praised the annual “B’chol Levavkha” conference in Jerusalem as a source of spiritual renewal for the religious Zionist public. He said the event, now in its 14th…
Smotrich Says Israel Is One Political Decision Away From Renewed Action in Iran
Israel Takes Over Planning Powers in Hebron’s Jewish Areas
Israel has taken planning and construction powers in Hebron’s Jewish areas away from the Palestinian-run municipality and given them to the state. The article frames the decision…
Smotrich Says Israel Is Not Bound by U.S.-Iran Understandings
Bezalel Smotrich said Israel is not bound by U.S.-Iran agreements discussed in Geneva and will keep its own freedom of action in Lebanon. He also said Israel can still strike Iran…
Haredi boycott forces cancellation of coalition leaders’ meeting
The coalition leaders’ meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening was canceled after Aryeh Deri and Moshe Gafni refused to attend. The move reflects a deepening crisis over the draft l…
Ben Gvir Rejects Lebanon Ceasefire, Defends Terror-Death-Penalty Law in TikTok Q&A
Itamar Ben Gvir told Channel 7’s TikTok Q&A that he opposes any ceasefire in Lebanon and backs the death penalty law for terrorists. He also criticized police conduct against ultr…
Bennett Rejects Right-Wing Critics, Reasserts Opposition to a Palestinian State
Naftali Bennett defended his right-wing credentials at a JNS conference in Jerusalem after criticism over his comments on settlements in Judea and Samaria. He said he opposes a Pa…
Coalition crisis deepens as Gafni skips leaders’ meeting
Coalition leaders are meeting Tuesday night to try to agree on an election date, but the crisis with the ultra-Orthodox parties is worsening. Moshe Gafni said he will not attend…
Netanyahu Ally Slams David Bitan Over Likud Primary Fight
A senior Likud source attacked David Bitan on Tuesday, accusing him of trying to build a “faction within a faction” as the party debates whether to hold primaries. Likud leaders a…
Shikma Bressler Says Gotliv’s Conduct Serves Political Gain at Israel’s Expense
Shikma Bressler told 103FM that Tally Gotliv is endangering state security for political gain. She linked the campaign against her to broader pro-government propaganda and accused…
Treasury Warns Repeal of Kosher Reform Could Cost Public NIS 750 Million a Year
Israel's Finance Ministry says repealing the kosher certification reform would cost the public NIS 750 million a year. The bill passed its first reading and would restore the Chie…