Smotrich Blames Arab Leaders for Violence in Knesset Clash as Finance Panel Fight Exposes Coalition Strains

Overview

• Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told Ra’am MK Iman Khatib-Yassin, “Are we to blame that you're killing each other?” after she charged the government with failing to curb violence in Arab communities.
• Opposition lawmakers objected on the spot, reminding Smotrich that as a cabinet minister he carries governmental responsibility for public safety.
• Smotrich rejected the criticism and urged Arab political leaders to more forcefully denounce violence and terrorism, including explicitly labeling Hamas a terrorist organization.
• Hours later, Smotrich clashed with UTJ’s Moshe Gafni in the Finance Committee, suggesting UTJ was acting like the opposition and hinting it could be left out of the next coalition.
• Gafni warned Smotrich’s policies threatened hundreds of dairy-farming families, while Smotrich defended them as measures that would save money for low-income households, with no resignations or policy reversals reported.