Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urges coalition unity, warning that triggering elections could lead to military defeat in Gaza and jeopardize Israel’s national camp.
Jerusalem – July 21, 2025 — Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich issued a stern warning on Sunday, cautioning that any move to collapse the current government amid wartime would be an unforgivable act of national sabotage.
Speaking at the ‘Sha’alim’ Conference, Smotrich addressed growing tensions surrounding the contentious Draft Law, emphasizing the critical need for unity within the coalition. “History will not forgive anyone who, God forbid, topples this government and drags us into elections,” Smotrich declared. “We don’t need to convince anyone how strongly we believe in enlisting our haredi brothers—but unity comes first.”
Smotrich directly linked coalition stability to the successful continuation of the Gaza campaign, portraying the war as a test of national resolve. “Woe to anyone who topples the government and leads us to elections that would, God forbid, end the war and hand Hamas a victory,” he said. “Gaza is a battle of willpower—ours versus theirs. We must show determination, persistence, and the courage to endure sacrifice.”
He addressed both ultra-Orthodox factions and Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, who recently shelved the draft legislation. “A historic change is possible,” Smotrich said, “but it requires patience, compromise, and coalition integrity—not dismantling the alliance of the national and religious camp.”
Smotrich also echoed concerns over alleged U.S. interference in Israeli internal politics, referencing a recent U.S. House Judiciary Committee report that claimed nearly $1 billion in funding was directed to organizations working against the Netanyahu government.
“The report confirms what we’ve been dealing with since day one,” he said. “Nearly a thousand organizations, funded by U.S. dollars, have been trying to dismantle the right-wing government and destabilize the national camp. When discussing our achievements and challenges, this context cannot be ignored.”
The speech served as both a rallying cry to coalition allies and a warning of the broader geopolitical and domestic pressures at play, as Smotrich framed internal dissent as a potential existential threat to Israel’s ongoing military efforts and political identity.
