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Bezalel Smotrich

Bezalel Smotrich is a far-right Israeli lawmaker and leader of the Religious Zionist Party, who currently serves as the country's finance minister as well as a minister in the Defense Ministry. In the past, Smotrich also served as transportation minister.

Smotrich is a highly divisive figure in Israeli politics, having been accused of racism, extremism, and homophobia. Smotrich has also gone on record saying that he is a "proud homophobe," staunch support for Israel's West Bank settlements, and rejects both the future existence of a Palestinian state as well as the existence of the Palestinian people.

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Opposition head Yair Lapid leads a faction meeting at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on September 4, 2024

Yair Lapid: Israel must embrace democratic, liberal ideals to defeat its enemies

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

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 Bezalel Smotrich, Moshe Arbel, Nir Barkat.

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Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Plenum approves NIS 3 billion expansion of 2024 budget

 Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is seen alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

‘Spoke on behalf of all citizens’: Smotrich commends Netanyahu’s UN speech

By TAL SHALEV , YAKI ADAMKER , Ori Sela
 FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, last week.

'He just hates women': Smotrich-backed chief rabbi nom. faces controversy over child support policy

By BINI ASHKENAZI
  Damage in Israel's North following multiple Hezbollah rocket barrages on September 22, 2024

'Ceasefire ensures next Oct. 7': Israeli politicians, regional leaders slam US-French proposal

 Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Finance committee meeting at the Knesset, on June 10, 2024

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 PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu shows a map of the Gaza Strip and the nearby Israeli localities, with the arrows pointing to the Philadelphi Corridor (top) and the Rafah crossing, at a news conference in Jerusalem on Monday.

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By Elias Zananiri/The Media Line
 Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Finance committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament on June 10, 2024.

Finance Committee begins debate over 2024 budget amendment

Economy Minister Nir Barkat and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speak in the Knesset plenum on February 21, 2024

Economist warns: Israel's war costs could reach 10% of GDP, raising urgent challenges

By Nathan Klabin/The Media Line
 FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, last week.

Gov. set to approve grants for October 7 bereaved families, hostages' families

 SOUVENIR SHOPS around Manger Square in Bethlehem are shuttered, earlier this month.

Gaza economy shrinks to less than a sixth of its pre-war size, UN report says

By REUTERS
An empty classroom

Israel's high school students skip class as threats of further strikes ramp up

 The Knesset plenum on July 24. All opposition MKs boycotted the vote for the ‘reasonableness’ bill, while all coalition MKs supported it, resulting in a 64-0 vote.

Knesset approves first reading of 2024 budget expansion bill