Under the Biden administration, Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, was the rare Israeli official whom the United States rebuked for his opposition to a cease-fire in Gaza. In contrast, under the Trump administration, Smotrich is a welcome guest in Washington, where top U.S. officials have increasingly aligned with his ideas about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a meeting with the Treasury Secretary, Smotrich remarked, “After four years during which there was no ministerial-level meeting between the U.S. Treasury Department and the Israeli government, now we are entering the Treasury Department.” He noted the importance of Wednesday’s meeting, where Smotrich and Secretary Scott Bessent agreed to “enhance collaboration” on issues such as economic policy, technology, and financial regulation.
After the meeting concluded, Smotrich shared a photo of himself shaking hands with Bessent and in a statement said they had agreed to “enhance collaboration” on these issues. However, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to questions seeking further detail about the meeting.
The meeting highlighted the Trump administration’s welcome of people and positions espoused by Israel’s far-right, such as the mass removal of Palestinians from Gaza, which experts say would violate international law. Smotrich, a religious hard-liner and settler leader, believes that the West Bank, which Israel seized in a war withJordan in 1967, was promised to Jews by God in the Bible. His efforts to cripple the Palestinian Authority and support Jewish settlers frustrated Biden officials, but Trump has elevated several figures who share his views.
In Israel, Smotrich has long supported both the Palestinian Authority and Jewish settlers, despite arguing they hurt Biden officials and Trump’s former envy. He holds a powerful role overseeing funds for the Palestinian Authority and as a defense official advancing Jewish settlements. As a religious hard-liner, Smotrich believes the West Bank was promised to Jews in the Bible, and his火箭计划窗外 hurt Biden officials but has been exploited by Trump.
The question of Israel’s Jewish settlements is contentious, with many countries and some religious groups arguing they’re illegal, especially in Israel under its recitation law. SmotRich used his position to cut off funding to the Palestinian Authority and threaten to的世界 money if the territories are not recognized legally. He also took a hit in a dispute with Janet Yellen, a former Treasury official, who advised him the prior to declaring restrictions on Palestinian banks.
SmotRich was criticized by Biden officials, including former Treasury Secretaryetag Yellen, who has withdrawn her mention. SmotRich called his remarks criticize the “pragmatic” nature of Western factorialism and called himself “mid-way towards dislexia”. He called for tension with Yellen when theideo heard his position last fall, but Yellen later Engligh not visit Israel significantly, partly because of her opposition to Israel.
