Bezalel Smotrich

Bezalel Yoel Smotrich is an Israeli far-right politician and lawyer who has served as the Minister of Finance since 2022. The leader of the National Religious Party–Religious Zionism, he previously served as a Knesset member for Yamina.
bezalel-smotrich

Some of the key events about Bezalel Smotrich

  • 1995
    Graduated from high school with honors
  • 2002
    Completed military service in the Israel Defense Forces
  • 2006
    Organized a protest march against the Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade
  • 2009
    Graduated with a law degree from Ono Academic College
  • 2013
    Co-founded the Sovereignty Movement advocating for Israeli control over the West Bank
  • 2015
    Elected to the Knesset as a member of The Jewish Home party
  • 2015
    Referred to Arab lawmakers as "terrorists" during a Knesset debate
  • 2016
    Supported segregation of Jewish and Arab women in maternity wards
  • 2018
    Appointed as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset
  • 2019
    Became leader of the National Union party
  • 2019
    Called for Israel to be governed by Jewish religious law
  • 2020
    Compared LGBTQ+ people to dogs in a radio interview
  • 2021
    Appointed as Minister of Transportation in the Bennett-Lapid government
  • 2021
    Suggested that Arab Israelis who are not loyal to Israel should be expelled
  • 2022
    Elected leader of the Religious Zionist Party
  • 2022
    Appointed as Minister of Finance in Netanyahu's government
  • 2022
    Advocated for the cancellation of the crime of fraud and breach of trust for public officials
  • 2022
    Proposed legislation to allow businesses to refuse service based on religious beliefs
  • 2023
    Called for the Palestinian village of Huwara to be "wiped out"
  • 2023
    Denied the existence of a Palestinian people, calling it an "invention"

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.

Bezalel Smotrich Latest news