Why did Israel restart the war? One answer: Bezalel Smotrich.

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Why did Israel restart the war? One answer: Bezalel Smotrich"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Consider This from NPR
• Host/Author: NPR
• Episode Title: Why did Israel restart the war? One answer: Bezalel Smotrich
• Release Date: March 28, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of NPR's Consider This, host Scott Detrow delves into the complex reasons behind Israel's decision to resume military action against Hamas. Central to this decision is Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, whose ultra-nationalist stance has significantly influenced both domestic politics and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

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Public Opposition to Resuming the War

Scott Detrow opens by highlighting the substantial domestic opposition to Israel's renewed military efforts against Hamas. "Last weekend, more than 100,000 took to the streets in cities across the country," [00:00] protests were organized in major cities, including Tel Aviv where demonstrators chanted, "If an agreement isn't reached, it is murder for the hostages." These protests underscore the tension between public opinion and government actions, especially concerning the safety of hostages held in Gaza.

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Netanyahu's Political Struggles

The episode outlines Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's precarious political position. Despite polls indicating that public sentiment is shifting away from him, Netanyahu's immediate concerns revolve around maintaining his coalition. "Netanyahu's fate does not depend on public opinion. It depends on holding together his coalition," [01:10] explains Alan Penkas, a former Israeli diplomat. Netanyahu faces multiple challenges, including ongoing trials for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, which could result in imprisonment if convicted. Additionally, his attempts to overhaul the judicial system have sparked mass protests, adding to his political vulnerabilities.

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The Rise of Bezalel Smotrich

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Bezalel Smotrich, tracing his journey from a controversial figure to a key player in Israeli politics. NPR’s Hadil Alshalshi narrates Smotrich's early years when he was once targeted by Israel's internal security agency, Shin Bet, in 2005. Despite being arrested and interrogated for several weeks, Smotrich was released without charges, remaining silent throughout the process. This period marked the beginning of his transformation into an influential ultra-nationalist leader.

"Smotrich's faithful devotion is evident every time he threatens to collapse Netanyahu's coalition if the war doesn't continue." [07:07] – Tomer Persico

Smotrich’s political philosophy is deeply rooted in religious Zionism, advocating for the governance of Israel strictly according to the Torah. As an ultra Orthodox nationalist, he rejects liberal values and champions the permanent settlement of the West Bank, which he refers to as Judea and Samaria, a biblically significant region.

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Political Strategy and Coalition Dynamics

Netanyahu's reliance on Smotrich and other far-right parties is crucial for the survival of his government. Hadil Alshalshi explains that Smotrich's party became a pivotal part of Netanyahu's coalition, granting them unprecedented influence. This alliance allowed Smotrich to gain control over the Ministry of Defense and oversee settler activities in the West Bank, pushing forward annexation plans that have significant geopolitical implications.

"Primal force that is withholding the end of the war." [08:17] – Tomer Persico

Smotrich leverages his position to further the settlement agenda, often at the expense of Palestinian communities. This strategy was particularly evident when, following a temporary ceasefire in January, Netanyahu escalated incursions in the West Bank, leading to widespread destruction and displacement of Palestinians under the guise of eliminating militants.

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International Relations and Future Implications

The episode also explores Smotrich's interactions on the international stage, particularly his recent meeting with officials from President Trump's administration. While Smotrich avoids Western media, his statements during his first press conference post-visit indicate a steadfast commitment to annexing the West Bank, seeking support from key international allies.

"We believe this is the right thing to do," [09:00] Smotrich asserts when questioned about Trump's support for annexation efforts.

However, despite his strong rhetoric, Smotrich's political future within Israel remains uncertain, with only 11% of the population supporting his party in the last elections. His ability to push forward the annexation agenda heavily depends on both internal coalition dynamics and the stance of influential international players like the United States.

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Conclusion

The episode concludes by emphasizing the pivotal role of Bezalel Smotrich in shaping Israel's current military and political strategies. His ultra-nationalist agenda, combined with Netanyahu's political maneuvers to maintain power amidst legal and public pressures, creates a formidable force driving Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank. As Netanyahu navigates these turbulent waters, the influence of figures like Smotrich will likely determine the trajectory of the conflict and Israel's future domestic policies.

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Notable Quotes:

• Alan Penkas (Former Israeli Diplomat):

  "With the lack of political leadership of Hamas in Gaza, only military leaders of Hamas are left in Gaza today. And they are not necessarily taking orders from the Hamas leadership outside. We're putting the hostages in direct danger." [00:51]

• Tomer Persico (Scholar of Jewish Extremism):

  "The more Jews settle the lands that the State of Israel has conquered, the more redemption is coming close. So it's a messianic movement, very motivated, pious and devoted religion." [05:08]

• Bezalel Smotrich:

  "My long term desire is for the state of Israel to be governed according to the Torah or Jewish Holy Scripture." [05:35]

• Tomer Persico:

  "Primal force that is withholding the end of the war." [08:17]

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the multifaceted discussions from the episode, providing insights into the intersection of Israeli politics, religious nationalism, and the ongoing conflict with Hamas. By highlighting key quotes and providing detailed context, the summary offers a clear understanding of the critical factors influencing Israel's current trajectory.

Transcript

[Scott Detrow]

In Israel, the voices opposing the resumption of the war against Hamas are loud, and they are many. Last weekend, more than 100,000 took to the streets in cities across the country, according to protest organizers. In Tel Aviv, protesters chanted, if an agreement isn't reached, it is murder for the hostages. Israel believes there are still 24 hostages alive in Gaza, along with the bodies of many more. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he resumed the war and ended an earlier ceasefire in an effort to pressure Hamas to release the remaining hostages. Israeli peace activist Gershon Baskin says this is risking the hostages lives. Back in 2011, he negotiated with Hamas to win the release of the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.

[Alan Penkas]

With the lack of political leadership of Hamas in Gaza, only military leaders of Hamas are left in Gaza today. And they are not necessarily taking orders from the Hamas leadership outside. We're putting the hostages in direct danger. They have threatened to execute them. They could be killed by Israeli bombing.

[Scott Detrow]

Polls show Israeli public opinion is not on Netanyahu's side. But in this moment, Netanyahu's fate does not depend on public opinion. It depends on holding together his coalition. He's worried about political survival. Alan Penkas is a former Israeli diplomat who served under Netanyahu's predecessors.

[Tomer Persico]

He has no political life expectancy outside.

[Alan Penkas]

The prime minister's office.

[Scott Detrow]

Netanyahu is also still on trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. And if convicted, he could face prison. And he's also trying to fire the head of Israel's internal security service, which was conducting a separate investigation into his administration. And he's also trying to push through an overhaul of the judicial system that would give him more power. That effort has prompted mass protests. Netanyahu needs the far right parties in his coalition to keep his government afloat. In particular, he needs his ultra nationalist Finance Minister, Batshala Smoltric, who had threatened to collapse Netanyahu's government if he did not resume the war on Hamas. Consider this. Where Israel's war in Gaza goes next might depend in large part on Batshal Al Shmoltrich. So what does he want? From npr, I'm Scott Detrow. It's considered this from npr. But Saleh Smoltrich's views were once fringe in Israel. He's an ultra nationalist, a West bank settler, and he has repeatedly called for Israel to resettle the Gaza Strip. His rise to power in Israeli politics has been a long one. NPR's Hadil Alshalshi takes the story from here.

[Hadil Alshalshi]

Israeli Finance Minister Bethsell Al Smotrich was once a wanted man by Israel's version of the FBI. In 2005, Israel was rocked by mass protests. Israeli settlers were demonstrating against the removal of Jewish settlements from Gaza. At the time, Tver Kariv was an agent with Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet, Kariv Sundays. Late on July 11, 2005, they raided a home in central Israel, he says. In the basement, we found several jerry cans filled with a lot of oil and fuel. They arrested five people there. One of them was a student called Betzalal Smotrich. Karif says the men were interrogated for three and a half weeks. From the Shin Bets perspective, we successfully thwarted what Bezalel Smotrich and his group had planned, Karif says. While he says he can't divulge what that was, Israeli media has reported that Smotrich and his group were planning to blow up a major Israeli highway. Smotrich remained completely silent during his interrogations and was released without charge. He did not give away his secrets, but later, as a politician, he spoke a lot about what drives his political motivations. My long term desire is for the state of Israel to be governed according to the Torah or Jewish Holy Scripture, he once told Israeli Radio. Smotridge is an ultra nationalist religious Zionist, a type of Judaism that branched out from the secular Zionist movement that founded Israel. While many ultra religious Jews historically rejected the Zionist movement, a minority accepted it. Many of them embraced the settlement movement after Israel took control of the west bank and Gaza Strip in the war of 1967. Tomer Persico is a scholar of Jewish extremism.

[Tomer Persico]

The more Jews settle the lands that the State of Israel has conquered, the more redemption is coming close. So it's a messianic movement, very motivated, pious and devoted religion, persico says.

[Hadil Alshalshi]

Smotrich is on the far right of the spectrum of religious Zionism, also known as ultra Orthodox nationalists who follow Jewish law and reject values like feminism, liberalism and LGBTQ rights. Smotrich and his followers believe that the Israeli occupied West bank is the Jewish people's ancestral home, featured in the Bible. A God given land they must make a permanent part of Israel. Smotrich, a lawyer, was first elected to parliament in 2015. Two years later, he wrote a manifesto called Israel's Decisive Plan. In it, he writes how to tackle the main obstacle to settling the west bank, the Palestinians.

[Tomer Persico]

Smotrich gives the Palestinians basically three immigrate, surrender and live as, let's say, subjects without the right to vote or fight and die.

[Hadil Alshalshi]

Only a few years later, Smo became the Leader of the religious Zionist party. Ohad Tal is a lawmaker in Smotrich's party.

[Tomer Persico]

I think that he's a very clever and smart person who understands the reality. He's presented at somebody radical because people find it hard to accept the truth.

[Hadil Alshalshi]

Smocha was perfectly poised for what happened in the most recent Israeli national election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won and looked for allies to form a coalition. But he's facing trial on corruption charges. Persico says Netanyahu was desperate.

[Tomer Persico]

He didn't have anyone else. Because of his ongoing trial, people said they would not sit in parliament with him.

[Hadil Alshalshi]

The only parties that would agree to form a government with Netanyahu were the ultra Orthodox and religious Zionists, including Smoch's party. Netanyahu formed a coalition with them, giving them more power than they had ever had before. The prime minister appointed Smotrich as finance minister and to the Ministry of Defense. Jewish extremism scholar Persico and in that.

[Tomer Persico]

Position, he has basically taken over the civil management of settlers in the occupied territories, meaning he's on the verge of official annexation.

[Hadil Alshalshi]

After the October 2023 attacks on Israel, Netanyahu called on Smotrich to be part of his war cabinet. The finance minister reached for his faith. I struggled with this decision and gathered my rabbis to consult with them. After all, I want to influence the war, he told a group of religious students last year in a video posted online. Smotrich is reported to regularly consult with a group of rabbis known as the Five. Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira is one of them. He has opposed a There is joy that hostages will return, but despite that joy, this is a very bad deal for Israel, shapira said in an online lecture. Persico says Smoj's faithful devotion is evident every time he threatens to collapse Netanyahu's coalition if the war doesn't continue. In Gaza, where he ultimately wants to see Jewish settlements rebuilt, he is the.

[Tomer Persico]

Primal force that is withholding the end of the war.

[Hadil Alshalshi]

Smotrizch has leveraged this power to further settler ambitions in the West Bank. Just days after Israel paused the war in January and agreed to a deal with Hamas for the release of hostages. Netanyahu ordered the escalation of incursions in the west bank, causing massive destruction in urban refugee camps and displacing thousands of Palestinians. Israel says it's to weed out Palestinian militants.

[Tomer Persico]

It's very feasible to say this is just a card Netanyahu gave Smotrich in order to appease him when going into the hostage deal.

[Hadil Alshalshi]

Smotrich was sidelined under President Biden's administration for his anti Palestinian rhetoric, and in Israel, polls show that he would not survive another election. Only 11% of the Israeli population voted for Smozic's party in the last elections in 2022. This month, Smoch was invited to Washington, D.C. to meet with his counterpart in President Trump's administration. Smojic rarely gives interviews to U.S. western media. This month, he gave his first press conference since his trip to the US And I posed a question to him. I have two questions. I ask him about plans for the annexation of the West Bank. Smotrich objects to the word annexation. Annexation implies taking something that isn't yours, the minister says. Judea and Samaria, the biblical name for the west bank, belongs to us. Trump told reporters his administration would announce its position on west bank annexation by early March. That date has passed. Smotrich says Israel and the US Are in dialogue about it, and I prefer not to go into details. I reply, is Trump the man who will make it happen for you? Will he support you to make it happen? We believe this is the right thing to do, he says. We're engaged in discussions and dialogue. So while Smotrich firmly believes he has God's mandate to take over the west bank, the question is whether he also has Trump's blessing.

[Scott Detrow]

That was NPR's Hadil Al Shalchi in Jerusalem. That sound of protest from the top of the episode came from reporting by NPR's Cat Lonsdorf. This episode was produced by Michael Levitt and Connor Donovan with audio engineering by Hannah Glovna. It was edited by William Troup and James Heider. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigun. Before we go, a quick thank you to our Consider this Plus listeners who support the show. Your contribution makes it possible for NPR journalists all around the world to do their jobs. Supporters also hear every episode without messages from sponsors. You can Learn more at plus.NPR.org.

[Hadil Alshalshi]

It's.

[Scott Detrow]

Consider this from NPR. I'm Scott Detrow.