Smotrich Defies Court Order, Reposts Controversial Video Featuring Gadi Eisenkot and Abbas

Following a binding court ruling by Judge Solberg to remove a contentious video showing former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot alongside Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Finance Minister and Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich reposted an image from the video on social media. Smotrich emphasized that despite the video's removal, "the truth remains," asserting that the political reality depicted is genuine and not fabricated.

In his post, Smotrich sharply criticized Eisenkot and former members of the security cabinet from the Democratic Party, accusing them of refusing to condemn a deadly attack that occurred the previous Friday. He highlighted Kamal Abu Rukun, described as Eisenkot's "new acquisition," who in his retirement interview referred to Abbas as a "partner," reinforcing Smotrich's claim that Eisenkot's circle supports political negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.

Smotrich warned the public to heed these figures, asserting that their intentions are serious and that their political agenda effectively promotes the establishment of a Palestinian state and a peace agreement with Abbas. This development intensifies the political conflict over the security and diplomatic narrative ahead of the 2026 elections.