Bezalel Smotrich

Smotrich continues to advocate for permanent Israeli control over Gaza and the West Bank, opposing any deal that would create conditions for Palestinian political authority, while also pushing further settlement expansion.

Smotrich, as Finance Minister, has advanced new West Bank settlement budgets and openly called for Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories, drawing sharp U.S. and EU rebukes.

Smotrich is pressing for expanded settlement construction in the West Bank and has promoted rhetoric about demographic transfer that has drawn international condemnation.

Smotrich was included alongside Ben Gvir in Ireland's ministerial travel ban announced Friday.

Smotrich is named alongside Ben Gvir as a target of the renewed EU sanctions discussion, with Czech opposition and German ambivalence creating a fragile blocking minority.

Smotrich, as Finance Minister with expanded authority over West Bank civil administration, is advancing settlement expansion and blocking aid transfers to the Palestinian Authority amid the Gaza war.