Former Jerusalem Prosecutor Shmulik Barzilai Joins Israel Beytenu, Calls for Military Equality and Judicial Reform
Shmulik Barzilai, a 45-year-old Jerusalem resident and former senior manager in the Jerusalem criminal prosecution office, has joined the Israel Beytenu party. Barzilai, who has handled serious cases including murder and sexual offenses and was involved in the high-profile Hollywood case, brings a strong security background as a reserve battalion commander of former Egoz unit soldiers. In an interview on the "Kippot Barzel" program on Srugim, he explained his unexpected transition from law and military service to politics, driven by frustration with government inefficiencies and a desire for deep change.
Barzilai described how his military experience, particularly commanding his battalion during the October 7 conflict in Gaza and subsequent fighting in Lebanon, shaped his political outlook. He criticized the lack of decisive victory over Hamas and Hezbollah, emphasizing that these groups remain active threats. This need for a clear military resolution motivated his alignment with Israel Beytenu.
Addressing perceptions of party leader Avigdor Lieberman as anti-religious, Barzilai recounted his first meeting with Lieberman, portraying him as a family man with close religious ties and deep knowledge of Jewish sources, including Jabotinsky and Maimonides. He argued that criticism of Israel Beytenu’s rhetoric mainly targets the ultra-Orthodox leadership, accusing them of perpetuating ignorance and poverty.
On the contentious issue of equal military service, Barzilai firmly supports Israel Beytenu’s push for universal conscription, including ultra-Orthodox and Druze populations, highlighting the operational strain on the Israel Defense Forces due to casualties and the need to ease reservists’ burdens. He also noted shortages in other essential services like firefighting.
Regarding judicial reform, Barzilai backs parts of the proposed changes, particularly establishing a constitution to regulate governance, but opposes removing all checks on executive power. He insists on maintaining balances and restraints within the system. On coalition politics, he is unequivocal that the government must be formed exclusively by Zionist parties, rejecting alliances with non-Zionist Arab parties and labeling Ra’am as the "Shas of Arabs."
In a rapid-fire segment, Barzilai criticized Benjamin Netanyahu as a failure who should step down, said Itamar Ben-Gvir is unfit for office, praised Bezalel Smotrich’s performance as finance minister but questioned his representation of religious Zionism, and described Yair Golan as a partner if he moderates his language. He concluded by calling the upcoming elections possibly the most dramatic Israel has seen.
