Bezalel Yoel Smotrich is an Israeli far-right politician and lawyer, serving as Minister of Finance since 2022.
He leads the National Religious Party – Religious Zionism, a right-wing political coalition in Israel. Before his current role, Smotrich was a member of the Knesset, representing the Jewish Home and Yamina political parties.
File
- Full name: Bezalel Yoel Smotrich
- Stage name: Bezalel Smotrich
- Date of birth: February 27, 1980
- Age: 44 years old
- Place of birth: Haspin, Golan Heights
- Nationality: Israeli
- Occupation: Israeli politician and lawyer
- Height: Unknown
- Parents: Chaim Smotrich and Sara Smotrich
- Siblings: Yiska Bracha Smotrich
- Spouse: Revital Smotrich
- Children: 7
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: 1 million USD – 5 million USD
Early life and education
Bezalel Yoel Smotrich was born on February 27, 1980 in Haspin, Golan Heights, to Chaim Smotrich and Sara Smotrich. His father, an Orthodox rabbi, was involved with the Jewish supremacist Tekumah party, which plays a key role in Israel’s far-right political scene.
Smotrich has an older sister, Yiska Bracha Smotrich, although information about his other siblings is not publicly available. He was educated at religious institutions such as Mercaz HaRav Kook, Yashlatz and Yeshivat Kedumim. He also served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), working in the Operations Department of the General Staff.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws from Ono Academic College and began studying for an LLM in public and international law at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem but did not complete it. Smotrich is a licensed attorney and is of Ukrainian-Jewish descent. He practices Judaism.
Career
Bezalel Smotrich is a prominent figure in Israeli politics and is known for his far-right views. He is a co-founder of the NGO Regavim, which monitors and challenges construction by Palestinians, Bedouins and other Arabs in Israel and the West Bank without Israeli permits.
In 2015, Smotrich entered politics as a member of the Knesset of the Jewish Home party, having previously served as director of Regavim.
He co-sponsored legislation that proposed bringing Jewish religious sources, such as the Torah, to bear on legal issues without the need for legislative or court precedent. The law was supported by members of the Likud, Shas and The Jewish Home parties.
In 2019, Smotrich sought the position of Minister of Justice, expressing his desire to “restore the Torah justice system.” However, concerns about the potential impact on Israel’s relationship with the Jewish diaspora led to the appointment of openly gay MK Amir Ohana instead.
In February 2023, Smotrich assumed significant administrative authority over the occupied West Bank, tasked with developing settlements and integrating their administration with Israeli authorities. He resides in Kedumim, a West Bank settlement considered illegal under international law.
Smotrich has made many controversial statements, including supporting a blockade of Gaza and calling for “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from Gaza. These actions, along with a freeze on tax revenue transfers to the Palestinian Authority, have been criticized as “racist” and “homophobic”, and have raised concerns about the impact their role in regional stability and human rights.
Social Media
Bezalel Smotrich does not maintain any active social media accounts.
Personal life
Bezalel Smotrich was married to Revital Smotrich, although the date of their marriage was not publicly disclosed. The couple has seven children, but their names are not shared publicly to ensure privacy.
Net worth
As Israel’s Minister of Finance, Bezalel Yoel Smotrich has an estimated net worth between $1 million and $5 million. This figure reflects that his assets and financial interests have come under scrutiny due to his high-profile political career.
