Consider This from NPR Why did Israel restart the war? One answer: Bezalel Smotrich.
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Mar 28, 2025 
Hadil al-Shalchi, NPR's correspondent, dives into the tumultuous rise of Bezalel Smotrich, an ultranationalist leader reshaping Israeli politics. Once considered fringe, Smotrich now plays a crucial role as finance minister during heightened military actions against Hamas. The discussion unveils his ambitions for the Gaza Strip and the complexities of political coalition-building amid public protests and Netanyahu's legal challenges. Al-Shalchi sheds light on the growing influence of religious Zionism and its implications for both Israeli and Palestinian communities.
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Smotrich's Early Activism
- Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's finance minister, was once a suspect in a 2005 incident involving jerry cans filled with fuel.
- He was arrested and interrogated but released without charge, remaining silent throughout.
Smotrich's Ideology
- Smotrich's political motivations stem from his ultra-nationalist religious Zionist beliefs.
- He desires Israel to be governed by Jewish law and actively promotes West Bank settlements.
Smotrich's Plan for Palestinians
- Smotrich's views represent the far-right of the religious Zionist movement.
- He believes settling the West Bank hastens messianic redemption and offers Palestinians limited options: emigration, subjugation, or conflict.