Far-right minister Smotrich resigns, deepening rift

19 hours ago

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich resigned from his post as minister in a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A spokesperson for Smotrich said on Monday the move was a protest against nationalist-religious Jewish Power party head Itamar Ben Gvir's request for more ministerial positions upon Ben Gvir's return to the government. In a statement, the Religious Zionism party accused Ben-Gvir, head