Bezalel Smotrich

Bezalel Smotrich
בצלאל סמוטריץ
Smotrich
Minister of Finance of Israel
Assumed office
29 December 2022
Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu
Preceded byAvigdor Lieberman
Minister of Transport of Israel
In office
17 June 2019 – 17 May 2020
Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu
Preceded byIsrael Katz
Succeeded byMiri Regev
Personal details
Born
Bezalel Yoel Smotrich

(1980-02-27) 27 February 1980 (age 46)
Hispin, Golan Heights
NationalityIsraeli
Political partyReligious Zionist Party
Spouse(s)Revital Smotrich
Children7
Alma materOno Academic College
OccupationPolitician ,lawyer ,public leader in Israel

Bezalel Yoel Smotrich (born 1980) is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He has served as Israel's Minister of Finance.

He is the leader of the Religious Zionist Party. He was previously the Minister of Transport from 2019 to 2020.

Early life and education

Smotrich was born in Hispin, in the Golan Heights and grew up in Beit El. He studied at religious schools, including Mercaz HaRav and a yeshiva in Kedumim. He later studied law at Ono Academic College and became a lawyer.

Before entering politics, he worked with ”Regavim” (רגבים) an Israeli organization that deals with land and building ishues.

Political career

Smotrich was first elected to the Knesset (Israel's parlament) in 2015. He was elected as part of The Jewish Home alliance. He served as a Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and worked on several parliamemtary committees.

In 2019, he became the leader of the political party Tkuma, which was later renamed the Religious Zionist Party.

From June 2019 to May 2020, Smotrich served as Minister of Transport. During this time, he promoted projects to improve public transport. These included special road lanes for buses and shared cars, as well as work on electric railway services.

In December 2022, Smotrich became Minister of Finance in the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. He also received a ministerial position in the Ministry of Defense.

As Minister of Finance he has worked on government budgets and proposed changes to increase competition between businesses and reduce the cost of living. He also promoted tax reforms intended to support Israel's technology industry.

Political views

Smotrich is a supporter of Religious Zionism - a movement that combines Jewish religious beliefs with Zionism. He supports Jewish settlement in the Judea and Samaria and believes that Israel should keep control of the area.

In economic policy he supports private businesses and greater competition in the Israeli economy.

Personal life

Smotrich is married to Revital Smotrich. They have seven children and live in Kdumim, in the Samaria.

Other websites


References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Lavi, Bar; Dori, Oren (21 March 2025). "בצלאל סמוטריץ': "אני צריך לפרק את תנובה ועוד מונופולים גדולים"". Globes (in Hebrew). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
  2. 1 2 "בצלאל סמוטריץ'". Knesset Channel (in Hebrew). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Bezalel Smotrich". Religious Zionist Party. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
  4. ↑ ""ד"ר סמוטריץ' ומר בצלאל": שר התחבורה השנוי במחלוקת – שהתגלה כהפתעה". Ynet (in Hebrew). 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
  5. ↑ "A Comprehensive Reform in High-Tech Taxation". Israel Innovation Authority. 2 November 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
  6. ↑ "הציונות הדתית". Israel Democracy Institute (in Hebrew). Retrieved 27 October 2026.