Smotrich placates coalition on Haredi draft, but pays a cost among settler base

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich faces political challenges ahead of Israel's October elections, particularly from his settler base, due to his vote against punishing ultra-Orthodox Jews who avoid military service. This decision, aimed at placating coalition allies, has angered some former supporters who view military service as fundamental. Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, defended his stance by stating, "Arrests don’t bring ultra-Orthodox to the army…they just make Jews fight one another in the streets." While some settlers, like Chaim Silberstein, praise his achievements in settlement expansion, others, such as Sarel Halperin, feel politically homeless, arguing that such policies undermine the army. Political analysts suggest Smotrich's move was a calculated effort to remain in the coalition and advance his settlement agenda, despite the cost to his support among some religious Zionists who believe he "no longer represents the values of Religious Zionism."