France has imposed sanctions and an entry ban on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and other Israeli right-wing figures. Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are joining the measure, per the announcement.
Leaders
Smotrich Proposes Shifting Iran Response
Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich pitched the cabinet on flipping Israel's Iran response, strike Hezbollah, not Tehran. For every Iranian missile, level dozens of buildings in Dahieh. Destroy South Lebanon's contact villages. Force Hezbollah to pressure Iran into flexibility in U.S. talks. Save direct strikes on Iran for a fatal blow to energy and economy. - N12
Leaders
Smotrich Proposes Hezbollah Strategy
Finance Minister Smotrich brought a new strategic framework to today's cabinet session: stop matching Iran strike for strike and instead devastate Hezbollah as the pressure mechanism. His formula calls for dozens of buildings in Dahieh leve...
Finance Minister Smotrich brought a new strategic framework to today's cabinet session: stop matching Iran strike for strike and instead devastate Hezbollah as the pressure mechanism. His formula calls for dozens of buildings in Dahieh leveled for every Iranian missile fired at Israel.
The proposal includes a "Silver Plow" operation to destroy South Lebanon's contact villages, which Smotrich argues is easier to execute and directly secures the north. A broken Hezbollah, in his view, would beg Iran to stand down, giving Tehran reason to show flexibility in talks with Washington. Direct strikes on Iran itself should be saved for a fatal blow to its energy sector and economy, not spent on routine exchanges.
Smotrich also frames the initiative as a way to earn credit with Trump, who rewards bold action.
@amitsegal
Leaders
Smotrich Urges Europe to Side With Israel
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:
Europeans have to be on our side in the war against Iran because it's the good guys versus the bad guys
Leaders
Smotrich Praises US Administration
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:
We have the most supportive administration that has ever been in the White House.
There has never been anything like it.
Leaders
Smotrich Threatens More Territory
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:
I say here unequivocally: if Hezbollah does not surrender, we will take more and more territory from them.
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Leaders
Smotrich Warns on Arrest Warrants
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich: “Issuing international arrest warrants against the prime minister, defense minister and finance minister is a declaration of war.
The Palestinian Authority opened this war and it will receive war in return.
I promise all our enemies: this is only the beginning.”
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Leaders
ICC Seeks Arrest Warrant for Smotrich
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:
I have been informed that the prosecutor of the antisemitic court has submitted a request for a fundamental international arrest warrant against me.
This request joins the unprecedented arrest wa...
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:
I have been informed that the prosecutor of the antisemitic court has submitted a request for a fundamental international arrest warrant against me.
This request joins the unprecedented arrest warrants issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
This clumsy attempt to force upon us a policy of security suicide through sanctions and arrest warrants will not succeed.
As a sovereign and independent state, we will not accept hypocritical dictates from biased bodies that repeatedly stand against the State of Israel, against our biblical, historical, and legal rights in our homeland, and against our right and duty to self-defense and security.
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Global
ICC Seeks Arrest Warrant for Smotrich
The ICC prosecutor has requested an arrest warrant for Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, according to Israel Hayom.
Economy
Smotrich Touts Israel Economic Record
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says:
“We closed the year with $80 billion in exits, a record high.
All of this while fighting a two-and-a-half-year war.
Compare that to other wartime economies. Look at what happened to the Ukrainian currency.”
Leaders
Smotrich Praises Trump as a Miracle
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:
Trump is a miracle.
He is simply a miracle.
It's indescribable if Kamala Harris was elected.
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Leaders
Smotrich Praises Israel Healthcare
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:
Israel has the best public healthcare system in the world. That’s a fact.
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Leaders
Smotrich Criticizes Saudi Vision 2030
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:
"I don't know where Saudi Arabia will be, but their 'Vision 2030' plan is stuck, basically at a dead end."
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Leaders
Smotrich Denies Trump Abandoning Israel
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:
“Claims that Trump is not coordinated with Israel or is abandoning it are false. We will continue to strike the regime.”
Leaders
Smotrich Vows to Destroy Iranian Enemy
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:
We will do everything to destroy the Iranian enemy.
We are doing the work for the free world.
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