Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is worse than secular Jews, United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni said in an interview with haredi news outlet Kikar Hashabbat on Thursday.
Gafni commented that Smotrich was not helpful in assisting with haredi (ultra-Orthodox) education, Torah, and treasury concerns, despite Smotrich being a right-wing, religious Jew. "I don’t remember such difficulty in previous terms, including those when I was in the opposition," Gafni commented.
"Without Torah students, we have no existence as a Jewish people. Without Torah students, the State of Israel cannot continue," Gafni commented, referring to the haredi draft law.
"This is the reality we’ve always lived in, so what changed now? As long as we support Netanyahu, they will make our lives miserable. All those in the right-wing who speak against yeshiva students are playing into the left's hands. It hurts, it’s painful. It shows that this partnership with the right is conditional. If it’s convenient for the secular media, fine, and if not, a few drop off," he added.
Gafni also commented on his relationship with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. "This is a valid question for me. It’s a liability for my partnership with people who violate severe prohibitions, like Ben-Gvir. For me, it’s very serious, we’re not friends with the parties we partner with. Many times we bite our tongues."
"At first, when we agreed that the judicial reform would come before the conscription law—this was a mistake. We shouldn’t have done that. We should’ve had the conscription law pass first," Gafni commented while explaining where the haredi community has gone wrong.
Gafni commented that he regrets not supporting the conscription law previously proposed by Benny Gantz and Avigdor Liberman during the Naftali Bennett-Yair Lapid government in 2021-2022.
"When there was a law in the previous term, we agreed on it, and then there were protests against it, and some wanted a better law. It was a law on Rabbi Edelstein's desk. We should have passed it, there were protests, and we didn’t pass it," he stated.
Smotrich responded to Gafni's comments, saying: "Gafni, shame on you. Now that you no longer have the Finance Committee, I suggest you visit the bereaved families. Go to Mount Herzl. Visit the Atzmona and Eli preparatory schools. Go to the Hesder Yeshivas in Yeruham and Kiryat Shmona. Travel across the Land of Israel to witness the strength of spirit and Torah like you've never seen in your life. Shameful."
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett also responded, saying: "Instead of attacking the religious Zionist community, you should thank them. Too many have fallen in the last two years defending our shared homeland."
מר גפני,במקום לתקוף את הציבור הדתי לאומי אתה צריך לומר להם תודה. רבים מדי נפלו בשנתיים האחרונות על הגנת המולדת המשותפת שלנו. לולא גבורת לוחמי צה״ל, הנוחבות היו שוחטים את כל המדינה, כולל את תושבי בני ברק ומאה שערים. ברית המשרתים תנצח את ממשלת המשתמטים. pic.twitter.com/mXT2HjRqXr
— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) July 17, 2025
"Had it not been for the bravery of IDF soldiers, the enemy would have slaughtered the entire country, including the residents of Bnei Brak and Mea She'arim. The alliance of those who serve will defeat the government of the draft dodgers," Bennett added.
Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer, who is also part of Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party, also commented on Gafni's comments.
"Gafni’s outrageous attack is a disgrace for a public leader and shows an unfathomable disconnection," he stated.
"Gafni, in his characteristic cynicism, chooses to lash out precisely when our soldiers are fighting on the frontlines, many wounded have not yet returned to their lives, and countless families are mourning their loved ones, instead of remaining silent and demonstrating responsibility. These are the days of the Three Weeks, with the month of Elul approaching; this is the time for soul-searching," he added.