Smotrich Faces Settler Backlash Before Israeli Election

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich faces a political fight ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 election after angering some West Bank settler supporters over ultra-Orthodox military draft arrests.

The Reuters report published by Al-Monitor said Smotrich’s troubles show the difficulty Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may face in managing coalition allies through Israel’s first election since the start of the Gaza war.

Smotrich, 46, is a lifelong settler in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and leads the Religious Zionism party, which opposes a Palestinian state. He has used his time in office to increase settlement building and remains admired by many settlers, including Beit El settler Chaim Silberstein, who said, “I think his achievements have been off the charts.”

The dispute centers on military service by ultra-Orthodox Jews, whose sons have typically avoided the draft for biblical study. Netanyahu’s coalition has struggled over the issue since a 2024 Supreme Court ruling found the religious-study exemption unlawful, and a bill passed last month to prevent arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders has also been blocked by the court.

Smotrich says ultra-Orthodox Jews should serve but opposes arrests, arguing they would deepen social divisions. “Arrests don't bring ultra-Orthodox to the army...they just make Jews fight one another in the streets,” he said, adding: “We must enlist the ultra-Orthodox but it must be with a process and consensus.”

Some former supporters have rejected that stance. Sarel Halperin, 30, from Alon Shvut, said, “I don't have a political home today,” while lawyer Shvut Raanan said Smotrich “no longer represents the values of Religious Zionism” and had “sold this country to the ultra-Orthodox.” Reuters said recent polls indicate Religious Zionism could struggle to pass the 3.5% vote threshold needed to win seats in October.