Bezalel Smotrich

In June 2025, five countries — the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway — sanctioned Smotrich for repeated incitement to violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. In 2026, France also adopted restrictive measures against him.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

In March 2026, the Knesset's legal service maintained that the Finance Ministry had transferred approximately one billion shekels to ultra-Orthodox educational institutions before obtaining the required approval from the Finance Committee. The state had acknowledged before the Supreme Court that a large proportion of the funds had been paid before parliamentary approval.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Smotrich played a central role in approving new settlements in the West Bank and reviving the E1 project between East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim. He publicly presented these measures as a means of consolidating Israeli control and rendering a Palestinian state unfeasible.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

In June 2025, Smotrich ordered the cancellation of a guarantee providing legal protection to Israeli banks cooperating with Palestinian banks. Palestinian authorities and foreign partners warned that disruption of correspondent banking relationships could severely destabilise the Palestinian economy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

In a special report published in 2025 on home-front management during the war, the State Comptroller attributed personal responsibility to several officials, including Smotrich, finding that the Finance Minister had failed to exercise his powers to address the civilian aspects of the crisis.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Smotrich urged Israeli banks not to automatically implement European sanctions targeting Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians and threatened to promote compensation mechanisms for customers denied services.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

At a conference in August 2024, Smotrich stated that no one would allow Israel to starve two million civilians in Gaza, "even if it could be justified and moral" until the hostages were returned. The European Union and several governments condemned the wording.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Under the coalition formed in late 2022, Smotrich obtained a role within the Defence Ministry with significant authority over the units administering civilian affairs in the West Bank. The United States and legal experts warned that transferring previously military functions could be perceived as a step towards de facto annexation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

From late 2023, Smotrich advocated encouraging Gaza residents to emigrate, arguing that a territory with only 100,000 to 200,000 Palestinians would be politically different. In 2024, he again discussed occupying Gaza, halving its population through voluntary departures and restoring settlements.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Personally implicated

Following a deadly attack on two Israelis and a violent settler rampage in Huwara, Smotrich stated that the Palestinian town should be "wiped out" and that the state should undertake the action. The United States described his remarks as incitement to violence.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

During a visit to France in March 2023, Smotrich declared that there was "no Palestinian people" and no Palestinian history or culture, speaking at a lectern displaying a map of Israel that included Jordan. The remarks and visual prompted Palestinian and Jordanian condemnation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

In 2016, Smotrich defended the possibility of separating Jewish and Arab patients in maternity ward rooms, stating in particular that it was natural for his wife not to want to share a room with a woman whose child might one day want to kill hers. The remarks prompted political condemnation and debate in the Knesset.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Smotrich participated in a 2006 counter-demonstration nicknamed the "beast parade" against Jerusalem Gay Pride. In 2015, he described himself as a "proud homophobe" during a debate and subsequently again used highly disparaging expressions about Pride marches.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

During protests against Gaza disengagement in 2005, Shin Bet detained Smotrich for several weeks amid suspicions concerning plans to violently disrupt infrastructure. Hundreds of litres of fuel had been seized in connection with the group arrested.

Attribution

Personally implicated